A SYNOPSIS OF AUSTUAMAN ACARIXA RAINBOW. 171 



Anibli/onuiHi raorelvi', Neuiu., Mem. Zool. France, xii., 1899, p. 

 258. 



AiiihJjjdiinna morplifi-, Frogg., N.S.W. Agric. Gaz., xi., 1900, p. 5-11. 



Iloxts. — Horses, Kangaroos, and Carpet Snake, Fijihon sjnhjti^s, 

 Lacep 



I fab. — N. 8. Wales and Queensland. 



Super-fcmuhj GAMASOIDEA. 



The species included in tliis super-family are well-known to 

 collectors, not only from the fact that many are common, but also 

 because many pass a portion of their life attached to spiders, 

 myriapods, and insects. These mites have, as a rule, a hard, 

 leathery integument ; some, however, are soft-bodied ; they are 

 broad, flat, short-legged, devoid of eyes, but exceedingly sensitive 

 in point of touch ; some of these mites can run rapidly, and leap, 

 while others ai'e lethargic, and seek protection when disturbed l)y 

 feigning death. In some species the mouth-parts can be com- 

 pletely withdrawn into the body. Normally tlie mandibles are 

 chelate, and the "fingers" denticulated. Examples occur in 

 whicli these organs are elongate and styliform, and hence adapted 

 for piercing. 



Family GAMASID.^\ 



Tliis is an extensive family, of world-wide distribution, and 

 including many genera and species. And here, again, in working 

 over literature, the student is brought face to face with the fact 

 that more species have been described and recorded from New 

 Guinea than from Australia. Doubtless some of the Papuan 

 forms will, when the subject is properly worked, be found to 

 (jccur upon our island continent. For a description of tlie internal 

 anatomy of tlie Gamasidje, and a description of their mode of 

 coition, which latter is marvellous, and doubtless unique in 

 nature, see Michael's paper " On the Variations in the Internal 

 Anatomy of the Gamasina^."^' Species of Gamasida? have been re- 

 corded not only from Arthropods, but also from tlie ears of cattle 

 and horses and from the bodies of moles, and nests of the 

 latter ; son)e have been recorded as living on mosses and various 

 plants. Amongst insects infested with these mites are beetles. 



11 Michael— Trans. Linn. Soc, v., pt. 8, 1892, p. 281, et seq. 



