SOME BRITISH EARTH MITES. 



Rhyncholophidse. 



C. F. GEORGE, M.R.C.S., 

 Kirton-in-L indsey . 



(plate X.). 

 RiTTERiA HiRSUTUS, 11. sp. — This mite is the most striking species 

 of this sub-genus I have 3'et met with. Its body is almost black, 

 with a peculiar sheen in 

 some lights, best seen in a 

 living specimen. No doubt 

 the dark colour depends in 

 some degree upon the inter- 

 nal contents of the abdo- 

 men, which are decidedly 

 black, and not easily de- 

 colorized by maceration in 

 preservative solutions. If 

 a portion of the skin of a 

 moderately fresh specimen 

 be washed in water on its 

 inner side, with a camel's 

 hair pencil, so as not to 

 remove the coloured part 

 of the skin, and then dried 

 on a microscopic slide, it 

 will be found to be finely 

 striated ; the lines are very 

 wavy, and of a beautiful 

 blue colour for the most 

 part, but here and there 

 they are more or less 

 transparent. Under a high- 

 ish power it forms a very 

 pretty slide. 



Besides the striae are the 

 hairs, which are curved and 

 bent backwards, and where 

 these have been broken off 

 are little round marks. 



The next thing most 

 striking is the beautiful 



blood-red colour of the proboscis, palpi and legs. These, also, 

 have a pitted appearance, especially the large'joints of the palpi. 



Naturalist, 



e. — Crista of Ritteria hirsuta. 



/, — Rhyncolophiis episcopalis Koch 



