269 



VII. — On some Oribatidce from the Sikkim Himalaya. 



By N. D. F. Feakce, Cambridge. 



(Read March 21, 1906.) 



Plate XIII. 



Early in February I received from Mr. A. Gage, Superintendent 

 of the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Sibpur, several parcels of moss 

 collected on the Sikkim Himalaya range at altitudes varying from 

 8000-2000 feet. These I carefully examined for Acarina, especially 

 Oribatidce. So little is yet known concerning the distribution of 

 this family in other continents than our own, that the results seem 

 to me worth putting on record. 



Of 20 species distributed among 12 genera no less than 12 were 

 British ; in some cases there were slight variations from our own 

 types, but as most of these creatures vary within rather wide limits 

 I did not consider such minute distinctions of specific importance. 

 I have appended a few notes on these points to the list which 

 follows. 



Sub-family Oribatinae. 



Genus Pelops. 



1. P. acromios. — Differs slightly from type in marginal noto- 

 gastral hairs, which are longer and less spatulate than in our form. 

 Living. Baghghora, 6000 ft. 



Genus Oribata. 



2. 0. oralis. — Chitin unusually massive. Nymphs with clavate 

 notogastral hairs strongly developed. Plentiful, living and dead. 

 Baghghora, 6000 ft. 



3. O. alata var. major. — Very much larger than ours (1200 /n). 

 No small specimens found. Eadiating tubes in chitin of ptero- 

 morphse conspicuously shown in dissections. Plentiful, living and 

 dead. SinihuL 8000 ft. Darjiling, 6500 ft. Baghghora, 6000 ft. 



Sub-family Notaspidinse. 

 Genus Cepheus. 



4. C. ocellatus. — A single specimen, dead and broken. Baghg- 

 hora, 6000 ft. 



Genus Liacarus. 



5. L. palmicinctus. — One nymph, not quite full grown. Sin- 

 ihul, 8000 ft. 



