114 A. D. MICHAEL ON TWO SPECIES OF ACARINA. 



(PI. VII, Fig. 3). Dr. Kramsr naturally takes it for granted tliat 

 the object of this is to seize and hold the hairs of the mole, and its 

 great resemblance to the holding claws of such Anoplura as Pedi- 

 culus capitis would naturally suggest the idea — which is confirmed 

 by the existence of holding claws in Myohia, My copies, Listro- 

 phorus, &c., the nearest allies. Led by these considerations, I also 

 at first supposed this claw to be for holding the hairs of the mole, 

 but I afterwards came to doubt it, my reasons being as follows, viz., 

 1st, in Myobia, Mycoptes, &c., both sexes, as well as the immature 

 forms, have the holding claws. In this species it is only the adult 

 male ; if they were for holding the hairs they would be as necessary 

 to the females and larvae, at all events to the former, as to the male, 

 and their development in the adult male only seems to point to a 

 different use. 2nd. There are numerous other Acarina, as for 

 instance, Dermaleichi, Gamasince, &c., in which the adult male has 

 one pair of legs specially developed for holding the female, and 

 little used for any other purpose. 3rd. In Myobia, Mycoptes, &c., 

 the mite adheres so firmly to the hairs of the mouse that it is 

 almost impossible to detach it ; and if one wants the mite, one 

 must pull out the hair — the creature frequently dies with the hair 

 firmly grasped in its claw. The present species does not adhere to 

 the hairs, as far as I could see, but may be picked off without 

 difficulty, except what arises from its small size, and may be obtained 

 by merely shaking the mole. 4th. This species is provided with 

 suckers to four of the other legs for holding purposes, which are 

 absent in Myobia, Mijcoptes, &c. 



I have stated above that I do not think that this species is 

 parasitic in all stages ; my reason for this is that I have found a 

 considerable number of immature specimens (Nymphs), which, as 

 usual, closely resemble the female, in moss, from whence they pro- 

 bably attach themselves to the mole on attaining their final stage. 

 It is not at all unusual amongst Acarina for a creature to be 

 parasitic in one state and not in another ; thus, for instance, the 

 Nymphs of many Gamasince are parasitic while the adults are not, 

 and the larvse of some Trombididce will fasten themselves to human 

 beings, but adults will not. 



Dr. Kramer found upon the mole, together with the present 

 species, an Hypopial creature, which he considers to be a new 

 species, and calls Labidophorus talpce. It is very minute, and when 

 living is a clour pretty creature. In the present state of the vexed 



