THE AC A ETNA OR MITE^ -BANKS. 



73 



creatures, with a sijuarisli body and short, rough legs. X. fruticdtuH 



Banks occurs in sphagnum moss and on the ground 



in wet tields. X. <',vc)sus Banks occurs on the liark 



of spruce trees, where it is much protected ])y its 



color. Another species, X. slmple.r Banks, was 



found among lichens on dry rocks. X. nK/uloxus 



Banks is a common form luuler loose bark; it can 



scarcely be distinguished from the bits of dirt 



among which it lives. 



The genus llypocldlioni ax has not been found in 



this countr}'. It has a soft skin, which usuall}' 



shows traces of segmentation. The}' occur in 



moss and damp places. The genus Pelops^ closely 



rcdated to (_T<thiJiui<i^ is likewise not 3'et known in 



this country'. 



As an appendix to the Oribatoidea may be added 



the genus XlcoletlMa Canestrini, a genus repre- 

 sented b}' two European and one Central American 



species. It differs from the other Oribatidie in the 



large and prominent chelate mandibles, b}^ the indetinite pseudostig- 



matic organs, the complete union of cephalothorax and alidomen, and 



by having ])ut one large aperture on 

 the venter near its tip, which includes 

 l>oth anal and genital openings. The 

 cox;i? are all close together, and touch 

 on the median line. The palpi ar(^ 

 very short and simple. Legs I and \\ 

 end in two claws; legs III and IV end 

 in three claws. The species occur on 



140. — Venter 



NOTHP.rS. 



Fig. 141.— Nothrus banksi. 



Fig. 142. — Nothrus truncatis. 



the ground, under stones, dead leaves, and in moss. They have much 

 resemblance to some Gamasidas. 



