428 



Georsre : Some Brltisli Earthmites. 



specimens since that time, from Scotland, sent by Mr. Evans. 



Mr. Soar has been kind enough to draw the dorsal aspect 

 of this mite, from a preserved specimen, without much pressure, 

 and it gives a good idea of the recent mite, there is also an 

 enlarged figure of one of the palpi, and of the sternite and eye 

 capsule. The description of the mite in ' The Naturalist ' 

 for July, 1907 will serve. I may say that Mr. Evans has found 

 this mite on several occasions. It had been suggested that it 



Rhyncholophus communis. 



Drawn from dead specimens. Dark brown. White patch in centre of dorsal surface, 

 about \ length of body. Sternite O'G mm. long. Eye capsule O'lO mm. long. 



might be Koch's Rhyncholophus rcgalis, but 1 doubt this, and 

 Koch does not give any description or enlarged figure of the 

 sternite, or the proboscis ; nor do I know of any more recent 

 author who has done so. These very beautiful and inteixsting 

 creatures are worthy of more study than they seem as yet to 

 have received ; and I trust that some of your readers will take 

 up this subject, and give their researches to ' The Naturalist.' 

 At present we know little about the anatomy of the males, 

 those I have received being females. The males are probably 

 smaller than the females, and so less conspicuous, and passed 

 over as small or immature specimens. 



Naturalist, 



