26 CORN And ciRAss. 



this direction. We have, however, notes that, excepting annoyance 

 to horses from the Mites in infested fodder causing coughing by reason 

 of the tickling in their tliroats, otherwise no harm at all has been 

 observed as caused by their presence ; and it will be noticed, in the 

 communications by Mr. Colin Campbell, that relatively to this point 

 he especially mentions that Mite-infested hay was fed to a large fold 

 of in-calf cows, young cattle, horses, and dairy stock, without doing 

 them the slightest harm. 



This cannot be considered as an important attack ; still it to some 

 degree lessens the value of the hay, and in every way we should be 

 much better without it ; therefore I give the observations of the past 

 season, from which the above summary has been taken, hoping that 

 they may lead to further notes of how to prevent infestation, or clear 

 Mite presence from the fodder. 



These little " Mites," or Acari, are quite indistinguishable, without 

 strong magnifying powers, from the common Cheese Mites, which may 

 constantly be seen lying in little heaps, like greyish or yellowish 

 powder, where they have fallen, on a dish or on dairy shelves, from 

 infested cheese; only, in the case of the Hay Mites, they may be found 

 in great masses round the stacks, or dropping from the infested 

 hayloft. 



The figure of this Mite (magnified) at p. 25 gives its general 

 appearance, with its crab claw-like jaws, and also with the long hairs 

 which are one means of distinguishing it from the nearly allied 

 " Common Cheese Mite" [Tynxjlyphus siro), and also the single claw 

 and sucker at the end of the foot, which is a characteristic of this sub- 

 genus of Acariiia, or " Mites," namely, the Tyrof/It/phi. It is almost 

 impossible, however, for any one who has not made a special study of 

 these minute creatures to identify them from mere description ; therefore 

 when first brought forward, in 1886, we obtained a trustworthy identi- 

 fication by Mr. Albert Michael, and since then such of the consignments 

 of Mites as I have examined microscopically have agreed with those 

 first noticed, and the most observable points, which can be seen by 

 fairly high microscopic powers, are given in my preceding (14th) 

 Eeport. 



Early in April, Mr. J. England Wilson, writing from Springhill, 

 Skene, Aberdeenshire, forwarded me, accompanying, " a sample of 

 Mites with seed taken from the floor of a hayloft." He noted : — " The 

 hay is Kye-grass and Clover, well seasoned but not heated in stack. 

 It possesses no perceptible odour. Horses eat it, but cough very much, 

 owing no doubt to the Mites irritating the windpipe." 



About the same date Mr. David Byrd, writing from Bunbury Heath, 

 Tarporley, Cheshire, mentioned: — " The Mites in hay we have long 

 observed." .... " We also find them in our granary. When the 



