74 



SOME BRITISH EARTHMITES. 



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

 Kirton-in Lindsey . 



Ottonia echinata. — I have not had the pleasure of seemg 

 this pretty httle mite ahve. The first specimen was one sent 

 to me by Mr. Evans, of Edinburgh, in December 1907 : it had 

 been some time in preservative solution, and was very much 

 bleached, giving little indication of colour, and otherwise was 

 not in good enough condition for drawing, etc However, I 

 made some rough figures and notes of the mite, and was there- 



Ottonia echinata ( I ) dorsal aspect x I'S ; (i') ventral aspect x :.'8 ; (3) genital opening 



(J) crista. 



fore able to recognise it, when fortunatfly sent to me by i\Ir. 

 Musham of Selby, who found it with other mites in moss taken 

 from Skellingthorpe Wood, South Lincolnshire, in November 

 last. It had not been very long in preservative solution, so 

 that its colour was not greatly altered. It was a beautiful 

 scarlet, and must have been very handsome when alive. 



This mite would seem to be widely distributed, since Scot- 

 land and Lincolnshire are so far apart. In shape, it appears 

 to be a rather long oval, narrower in front, and wider posteriorly. 

 The two front legs are longer and stronger than the others, and 

 clubbed at the distal ends ; the penultimate internodes are 

 also somewhat thickened. The fourth internode of the palpi 

 is provided with a strong double claw ; the bod}^ is covered 



Naturalist, 



