430 DESCRIPTION OF A MITE 



ton, and esppcially by the powerful chitinous ridges or 

 wing-like expansions on the lateral surface between the 

 second and third pair of legs. 



Length, $ and ? , about '95 millim. 

 Breadth „ „ -55 „ 



The abdomen is almost square, but somewhat longer 

 than broad, and slightly narrowed at its junction with 

 the cephalothorax, from which it is not plainly dis- 

 tinguished. The extreme edge is a strong chitinous 

 ridge bordered with a thick fringe of short, stout, 

 curved hairs, as in T. pyriforTnis. The dorsal surface 

 of the cephalothorax is also narrowed towards the front, 

 and has a curved anterior margin bent down so as to 

 protect the mouth, as in that species; it bears a few 

 of the same kind of hairs as the abdomen, and has a 

 chitinous thickening at each side. The abdomen rises 

 almost perpendicularly from the marginal ridge. There 

 is a central depression occupying the posterior half, or 

 rather more than half of the abdomen; and at the bottom 

 of this depression are transverse ridges, the hinder ones 

 nearly straight, and the anterior ones bent in the 

 middle, the central point being forward ; at the sides of, 

 but not in, this depression, are two chitinous blocks 

 which seem to form a starting-point for the ridges. 

 Anterior to this depression the central portion of the 

 creature, i.e. its longitudinal dorsal axis, is higher in 

 level than in parts nearer the margin, and forms an 

 irregular triangle of rough chitine. A broad chitinous 

 plate or ridge projects on each side above the second 

 leg, and between that and the third, evidently for their 

 protection ; it is probably flexible at the wdll of the 

 creature, as in the genus Oribates. 



The sternal surface has strongly marked depressions 

 for the reception of the legs. The coxse of the first 

 pair of legs are largely developed, flattened, almost 

 toi;ch in the median line, and nearly conceal the mouth. 



