1 62 MINUTE MARVELS OF NATURE 



taininga large number of very unwelcome guests. 

 Next I washed the victim free from its irritating- 

 visitors, after which I counted these torturing 

 mites, the family of which gave a total of seventy- 

 four in all. Some of these I prepared for micro- 

 scopic observation, and two of them I have 

 photographed for the benefit of the reader. It 

 will be seen in Fig. 105 that the two beak-like 

 mandibles have a fuzzy appearance. On examining 

 these organs under high magnifying powers, it is 

 found that each opens at its end after the manner 

 of pincers, revealing several teeth which fit tightly 

 together when once they have gripped their prey. 

 Their fuzzy appearance is due to their still retain- 

 ing a portion of their victim in their grip. In 

 Fig. 1 06 these mandibles will be seen to better 

 advantage, being considerably more magnified. 

 These elaborate jaws can be withdrawn sepa- 

 rately, rr together, into the interior of the body, 

 and, I have good cause to believe, play an im- 

 portant part, combined with their curious, clawed 

 feet, in making a holdfast while the bee is making 

 its flight and entering flowers. 



But the bee is not the only insect that is troubled 

 with these unwelcome attendants. I have often 

 taken specimens of some of our most fami iar 

 butterflies and moths, which entertained an em- 

 barrassing company of such visitors. The Reel 



