(Jiilatidoefrom the Sillim Himalaya. By N. D. F. Pearce. 273 



Sub-family Phthiracaringe. 



Genus Hoploderma. 



20. H. claviger sp. n. — Light brown, coarsely areolated : this is 

 not easy to see. Carina on aspis, but not on abdomen. Pseudo- 

 stigmatic organs rather exceptional for the genus ; they are 

 moderately long and thin, and are thickened distally (slightly 

 clavate). A few fine hairs on notogaster. Claws monodactyle. 

 Size, extended, 680 /a. Two, living. Baghghora, 6000 ft. 



How can we account for so wide a distribution ? Slow-moving, 

 non-parasitic, living in mosses, fungi, rotten wood, etc., not usually 

 very numerous in individuals, this family has none of the facilities 

 for transport and dispersal possessed by other Acarina — Tyrogly- 

 phida?, for instance, preying on man's food, multiplying with great 

 rapidity, swarming often in vast numbers, may well be carried 

 and dispersed almost everywhere. No doubt the great tenacity of 

 life which Oribatidse possess is an important factor. Many in- 

 dividuals reached me alive and in good condition — a ten thousand 

 mile journey and a confinement of several weeks without air or 

 light, and with little food or moisture, seeming to do them no 

 harm. Human agency we may, I think, neglect. It can have had 

 but little effect. The question remains extremely puzzling ; our 

 data are still very scanty, so it does not seem possible to answer 

 it in the present state of our knowledge. Workers in this field 

 are very few, unfortunately ; how much might be accomplished if 

 only naturalists, especially in tropical countries, would collect and 

 send home Acarina for identification. Such assistance would be 

 invaluable ; will anyone undertake to help ? 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIII. 



Fig. 1. — Oribata fallax. 



2. — Liacarus nigrescens, cephalothorax. 



3. — Ghaunoproctus cancellatus : a texture of chitin. 



4. — Chaunoproctus asperulus. 



5. — Notaspis hamatus, cephalothorax. 



6. — Amerus speciosus. 



7. — Neoliodes ocellatus (? nymph). 



June 20th, 1906 



