58 CORN AND GRASS. 



with the fodder. And thougli in this respect the infestation has been 

 found not to be injurious, still it is troublesome and undesirable; and 

 such amount of information as the observations which have been sent 

 furnish towards the history of the objectionable presence is of some 

 interest. 



The Mites have been sent from one or two localities in Ireland ; a 

 few in England ; but, for the most part, the observations have been 

 sent from Scotland ; and it is observable that these localities are often 

 at or near the sea coast. This may of course be only a coincidence ; 

 still we have notes of them from a locality in Berwickshire ; from 

 Skene, in Aberdeenshire ; Garve, not far from Cromarty Firth, on the 

 east of Eoss-shire ; and the infestation is specially noted from the Isle 

 of Jura, and as having been observed there more than twenty-five 

 years ago ; and in England notes have been sent, besides other 

 localities, of presence near Swafi'ham, Norfolk, and Bury St. Edmunds, 

 Suffolk. 



The earliest date of observation of Mite presence appears to be 

 when the large "cocks," or "tramps" (in which it is customary to 

 collect the hay on the field, as soon after cutting as possible, in 

 the West Highlands of Scotland), are moved for carrying. Then, — as 

 reported to me by Mr. Thos. Eraser, Ardfin, Isle of Jura, N.B.,* — 

 " The first appearances of the Mites (to an ordinary observer) are when 

 removing the said cocks, or tramps, from the field. While forking the 

 hay from the bottom or lower part of the cock on to a cart, at a much 

 higher elevation, it is necessary to raise the hay overhead, and in 

 minute particles, like dust, the Mites fall, and from the backward 

 position of the worker's head at the time, they stick and adhere to the 

 face in a very short time, causing itchiness or irritation on the skin. At 

 this stage, I thmk, they are less in size than they are when found a 

 fortnight or so later on emerging from the recently made stacks." — 

 (T. F.) 



This stage of emergence is that in which the Mites are usually 

 reported, and they have become so exceedingly noticeable that informa- 

 tion as to their nature is desired. I have had them sent on the 15th 

 of Sept., as dropping from the haystack observed ; at the beginning of 

 October as dropping in vast numbers from hay in a loft, and as late as 

 the middle of November, specimens, both Scotch and Irish, have been 

 sent me from infested haystacks. 



In the past season the first communication of observation of these 

 Mites escaping in great quantities from an infested haystack was sent 

 me on the 25th of August from Westacre, Swaffham, Norfolk, by Mr. 

 Thomas Fryer : — 



" I beg to send for your inspection a sample of ' Mites,' which, for 



* See my ' Fifteenth Report,' p. 29. 



