Fiiniitityc /\'s/s. 



121 



Gbjciphatjtis spinipcs of Koch, and G. domcMims, !)»» (Jeer. G. apimiyes 

 is an almndaiit and widely distiihutod mite, and feeds cliiefly on 

 dried animal and vesretalde matter. It is found ahundantlv in straw 

 and hay. also in tlour, meal, canlharides. hoi-sehair, etc. G. (foimsUcuJi 

 is also an abun<lant acarns in houses, sheds. stal)les. etc., and feed.s 

 on hay, stniw. hran. on drieil fruit-s, de^id insects, c»»rk, tohacco, and 

 unclean horsehair. It is frequently found in furnitui-e. Oudeman-s 

 found it " literallv coverin'' the furniture of the whole house," and 

 states that they fed on the animal fat which adhered to the not 

 thoroughly cleaned hoi-sehair with which the furiiiture was stuffed. 



FlO. 15. — H0C8EU0LD MITES. 

 A. aiyciphagui domttticut (Dc Oecr). H. (7. ijrinijfi (Koch). 



(After Allicrt .MIrlmcl.) 



It is thus likely they often originate from the stufting xisaX, hut it 

 is not jxKSsiUle to say. 



Nine sj>ecies of this genus of mites occcur in Oi-eat I^ritain. 

 Thix'e si)ecies {G. (fispar, Michael ; G. cramen, Michael ; and G. pla- 

 t;igastrr, Michael) live in niides' nest."?; one {G. acinnis, llaller). in 

 squinel nests; the others (^'. palini/cr, Koht. Fum. ; G. >,ntfs(nm\ 

 Armanelli ; and G. plumi^rr. KorliV commoidy in stahle f«»<lder and 

 in dust and sawdust. 



T.in:-nisTOKY. 



These minute acari dejMiSil iheir eggs among'^t tlie suhsianco.'* 

 upon which they feed. The eggs arc comparatively lai-ge, oval and 

 smooth-.shelled, of a dull grey or whit*-. ih«' outer covering K'ing 



