9 
Three new Parasitic Mites. 39 
Host. Meles tavus; several specimens collected by the 
author (9. vii. 1919) from a badger caught at Lutterworth, 
Leicestershire. 
Genus Psoroptes, Gerv. 
With the exception of Psoroptes natalensis, mihi, the forms 
of Psoroptes occurring on domestic animals resemble one 
another exceedingly closely in structure, and it is probable 
that they are merely varieties of a single species (P. com- 
munis). The hairs on the abdominal lobes of the males 
differ somewhat, however, in these varieties. In P. communis, 
var. ovis, and P. communis, var. cunicul’, the second hair 
from the outside of the lobe is very fine and much shorter 
than in P. communis, var. equi. In the var. capre it is 
longer than in the varieties ovis and cuniculi, but not nearly 
as long as in var. egud, whilst in the var. cervinus (from the 
big horn) it is very variable in length. 
The presence or absence of stigmata in Sarcoptid mites is 
still doubtful. In the genus Psoroptes and its allies (Chori- 
optes etc.) there is present a strip of chitin bearing a very 
minute crescent-shaped pore or marking which may perhaps 
be an obsolete stigma. It is situated between the base of the 
first leg and the dorsal scutum, and is best seen in specimens 
which have been subjected to pressure, for it is overlapped 
and hidden by a fold of the skin. Apparently there is no 
trace of tracheal tubes. 
Psoroptes natalensis, Hirst. 
Méegnin’s specimens of Psoroptes found on a buttalo from 
Cochin China living in the menagerie of the Paris Museum 
(specimens collected 24, viii. 1885), and determined by him 
as P. longirostris [= P. communis], are really referable to 
P. natalensis. 'Two of the hairs on each abdominal lobe of 
the male are distinctly flattened and blade-like. My best 
thanks are due to Dr. M. Langeron, of the Laboratoire de 
Parasitologie of the Paris University, for kindly permitting 
me to examine Mégnin’s slide of this mite. 
It is evident that two species of Psoroptes are parasitic on 
eattle, for [have examined specimens referable to P. communis 
(var. bovis?) collected from cattle at Johannesburg, South 
Africa (specimens kindly sent to me by Mr. G. A. H. Bedford, 
of the South African Union Veterinary Department). All 
the hairs on the abdominal lobes of the male are quite fine 
and unmodified (not flattened) in these examples from 
Johannesburg. 
