198 curious phenomena in natural history. Oct. 9. 
the Eaft Indies ; as in all appearance and probability, 
the piece of oak in question was pierced by it in 
Sheppey, long before a pafsage round the Gape was 
found to the Ett. 
But man will do well, even for his own villi 
safety, to make himself acquainted with the nature 
and maneelivres of a much more minute enemy than 
any hitherto mentioned, the acaRi sirones, which by 
lodging in his fkin, gives him the loathsome disease 
called the itch: and as this is the very same insect 
which spoils his flour, and turns his cheese to pow- 
der, under the well known name of mites, by re- 
maaining ignorant of its history, and mode of attack, 
he may get the itch in his own pantry ; nay even at 
-his own table, without going to the higher lands of 
the north in quest of it: at least we know that the 
helplefs infants of the indigent are often innoculated 
for the disease, by powdering their groins with spoiled 
flour, instead of white lead, or lycopodium, to pre- 
vent excoriation from the urine. 
This insect, which the plains of Rufsia can dis- 
‘pute the pofsefsion of, with all the mountaineers of 
Europe together, the microscope fhows to have 
eight feet, with a few hairs on the back, and to 
be exactly the mite of cheese and flour, as said ae 
bove *. : 
* Perhaps this opinion of our ingenious correspondeat will be dis-- 
puted. May not the old proverb be here applied, “like is an ill mark.” 
We know the itch is readily communicated by the touch; but I have 
neverheard of it being communicated by mity cheese. Edit, 
