Bibliographical Notices. 115 



British Orihatidce. By Albert D. Michael, F.L.S., F.R.IM.S., &c. 

 Vol. II. 8vo. Printed for the Eay Society, Loudon, 1S88. 



After the lapse of something more than three years we have the 

 pleasure of calling our readers' attention to the publication of the 

 second volume of Mr. Michael's admirable work on the British 

 Oribatidae. It forms the Bay Society's volume for 1887, and so 

 fully supports the character which we gave of its predecessor that 

 we have no occasion to do much more than announce its appear- 

 ance. 



The volume opens with an amended table of the genus Teijeo- 

 cranus, rendered necessary by the detection in Britain of three species 

 of that genus (two of them described as new) since the publication 

 of the first volume. Descriptions and tables follow of nineteen 

 species of Notcisi^is, seven of Damceus, six of Hennaaaia, two of 

 Eremceiis, thirteen of Nothrus, four of HijpocMhonms, five of Hoplo- 

 pliora^ and two of Scatovertex (with an amended table), making 

 together fifty-four species, all of which are described and figured 

 Avith the same care and detail as those cited in the former volume. 

 Of these fourteen, or about one fourth, are described as new species ; 

 and several of the others, especially belonging to the genus iVoirt.s-^jis, 

 have been previously described by the author in the ' Journal of the 

 Royal Microscopical Society.' The habits and transformations of 

 the species are described in the same careful manner as in the 

 preceding volume, and the work is rendered more complete by the 

 addition of further notes on the species therein noticed. 



In an appendix Mr, Michael gives ns an amended classification of 

 the genera belonging to this curious family of Mites, a further con- 

 tribution to the knowledge of their anatomy, some interesting notes 

 on the phenomena attending the change from the nymph to the 

 adult state, a bibliography of the literature relating to the Oriba- 

 tidae, and last, but not least, a list, with brief notes and references, 

 of recorded species of the family which are not known to occui- in 

 Britain. The list is a long one : but, as the author points out, many 

 of the species are imperfectly described and figured, and may turn 

 out to be identical with other recognized species, while some of the 

 names may represent immature forms. 



Under any circumstances, whether we consider the full and care- 

 ful descriptions, or the beautiful series of illustrations, or the manner 

 in which the author has summarized the labours of his predecessors, 

 we have in these volumes one of the most complete treatises that 

 can be conceived, and future students of the Acarina will owe a 

 debt of gratitude to Mr. Michael for his labours, and to the Bay 

 Society for producing their results in so admirable a form. 



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