412 1j iblioc/raphlcal Notices. 



historic account, a discussion on the origin and affinities of the 

 family, and an important account of the external Morphology and 

 Taxonomy, whilst the rest of the memoir is devoted to the syste- 

 matic treatment of the genus. It is unfortunate that a Bibliography 

 had heen omitted (due to its length and the high cost of printing 

 and paper). 



Mr. Hirst has demonstrated that the genital opening of the male 

 is dorsal and situated well forward on the cephalothorax, and, 

 basing his argument chiefly upon this fact, he suggests that the 

 family is probably a degenerate branch of the Cheletidse, thus 

 isolating it from the Tetrapoda (Eriophyidae) and suggesting a 

 closer relationship between the Thrombidiidas (or, as is still more 

 widely used, Trombidiidae) and Sarcoptidae than has generally been 

 accepted. As, however, the Cheletids are very closely related to 

 other Acarids wherein the genital opening is ventral, it is possible 

 that this feature has not the importance here attached to it. 



The publication is illustrated by thirteen plates from excellent 

 drawings by Mr. F. Highley, and it will be seen that the memoir 

 is not only of distinct value and interest to the systematist, but 

 also to the biologist and morphologist, and, though Demodex is 

 regarded as harmless to the majority of those who have studied it, 

 it may yet loom large in the eyes of the economic bionomist. 



Report on Cetacea stranded on the British Coasts during 1918. By 

 Dr. S. F. Harmer,. F.R.S. Printed by Order of the Trustees of 

 the British Museum (Natural History). 



These reports are proving a valuable addition to zoological litera- 

 ture, and this particular one must be regarded as of outstanding 

 interest, inasmuch as it is shown that the Cetacean recorded last 

 year as Cuvier's beaked whale {Ziphius cavirostris) from Liscannor, 

 Co. Clare, has proved, after cleaning and a closer examination than 

 was then possible, to be a new British whale, and one of remark- 

 able rarity, Mesoplodon minis. It was only described by the late 

 Mr. F. W. True from a female example taken at Beaufort Harbour, 

 North Carolina, in July 1912. The Liscannor specimen is an 

 adult male, and Dr. Harmer's researches and enquiries elicit the 

 fact that a third example (sex unknown) is in the possession of the 

 Museum of University College, Galway, whilst another Galway 

 specimen in the same collection is referable to the rare Cuvier's 

 whale (Z. cavirostris) ; both had been erroneously referred to the 

 Mesoplodon hectori of Gray. 



