CURRANT MITE. 143 
from other species in its tapering form, and in it having four legs 
instead of six.* 
A few days later on Prof. Berkeley reported that he had since 
the above notice was written received an abundant supply of fresh 
specimens in such a state as to enable him to study the matter 
satisfactorily. He observed that he had no difficulty in finding the 
little Acari, though they were exceedingly minute, for they were in 
such abundance as to present the appearance of a thin coating of 
white powder; and the little worm-like creatures, when examined 
under a high magnifying power, were found to be accompanied by 
eges. The smallest specimens of the Acari were noted as about 
1-250th of an inch in length, whilst the largest scarcely exceeded 
1-140th. The abdomen was closely striated with granular lines, and 
furnished with two sete at the extremity, and one on each side; the 
legs were four in number, and there were a pair of palpi. The eggs 
were mostly obovate or broadly elliptic, and about 1-500th of an inch 
in diameter. 
The disease was stated to have been first observed by Prof. 
Berkeley's correspondent in Yorkshire about four years previously, 
and to have increased rapidly, ‘‘and seems likely to make the cultiva- 
tion of the Black Currant very precarious.’’ + 
At p. 841 of the volume of the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle’ referred to 
below are some more detailed observations of the characteristics of the 
Mite, which is noted as white, fleshy, and covered with minute points 
closely arranged in very numerous transverse rows, forming strie of 
granular lines, and the body is terminated on either side by a long 
bristle. The general form long, convex, and tapering to the extremity 
of the body, with the anterior portion of the body more conical, the 
dimensions averaging 1-200th of an inch in length, and 1-500th of an 
inch in width. <A figure given accompanying is so far of value that 
it shows the transverse striw, and the legs being four in number, 
otherwise it is not a satisfactory delineation. 
The circumstance is mentioned by Prof. Westwood of a correspon- 
dent sending specimens of infested Currant buds from Blantyre, N.B., 
in the beginning of July, stating that the disease was quite general in 
that district, and had been known for twenty years, and that after a 
plant is infested very little fruit is to be obtained from it, and that the 
writer had examined the buds even during the period of frost and 
snow, and had then observed the young animals hatching from their 
eges.{ The study of this branch of the Acarina being then in its 
infancy, there was much speculation as to the precise nature of the 
* See report in ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle’ for 1869, p. 252. 
+t ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle’ for 1869, p. 276. 
t ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ loc. cit. 
