kiTES. ^6 



Mites (in Hay). Tyroglijphus lomjior, Gervais. 



Tyeogi.yphus longioe. 



r. longior (from fig. by Fumoze and Eobin) : claw and sucker of Tyroglyphus, 

 right-hand side (from Munay's 'Aptera'); claw and sucker on left-hand side, 

 figured by Ed. from life : all magnified. N-at. length rather more than half the 

 25th of an inch. 



The presence of Mites in hay continues to be reported, and (though 

 probably only from attention being drawn to the subject) more so than 

 in previous years, and, as regards their presence in stacks, up to the 

 6th of November we seemed to be as far as ever from knowing why they 

 are there, or how to get rid of them. Then, however, some very note- 

 worthy information was forwarded by Mr. Thos. Fraser, of Ardfin, Isle 

 of Jura, N.B., showing that the Mites are first observable in the fields 

 beneath the haycocks or tramps. This is a very important clue to the 

 original locality of the infestation, and I give Mr. Fraser's notes in 

 extenso at pp. 29, 30. Some other information, also, we have gained ; 

 the attack is nothing new, liaving been noticed as much as some five-and- 

 twenty years ago ; it is wide-spread, as observations of its presence are 

 given in Scotland, at localities respectively in Berwickshire, Aberdeen- 

 shire, and the Island of Jura; in England, in Yorkshire, and Cheshire ; 

 and it is rather curious, though very likely only a coincidence, that most 

 of the localities are on, or near, the sea coast. Also it is observable that 

 it is not reported from the more southerly parts of England, and some 

 of the observers notice the infestation as being found in hay which has 

 been well saved, but not heated. In some cases, where the kind of 

 hay infested is noticed, this is named as Eye-grass, not meadow hay ; 

 also we have notes of the Mites disappearing from round the stacks 

 with the arrival of cold, wet weather in autumn, and also, where 

 infested hay was stored in lofts, of the creatures dropping in the 

 succeeding summer from the previous year's hay. 



These respectively indoor and out-of-door observations may give 

 us some clue to prevention, otherwise we have made no advance in 



