184 Miscellanecus. 
very convex lenses, just as in Rhyncholophus. It further bears 
several long sete, of which the pair situated between the eyes is 
distinctly fringed. This special pair of sete on the thorax when 
seen under alow power, especially as it is placed near the black eye- 
spots, leads one to suppose that we have here a respiratory organ, 
similar to the stigma of the Oribatide; but a higher magnifying- 
power shows distinctly that this pair of sete is nothing but a per- 
fectly ordinary capillary structure. On the thorax there are also 
three longitudinal lines, branched in a tree-like fashion behind, and 
two transverse lines; and these divide its whole dorsal surface into 
several areas, three of which occupy the entire central space. The 
small setee on the segments of the abdomen are short and feathered 
on both sides, as is known to be the case in some species of T’om- 
bidium. In the living animal they have a bright white lustre, and 
so give the whole back a white glimmer. ‘The colour of the skin, 
however, is a faint violet with a reddish tinge. 
‘¢ On the lower surface we again see the thoracic segmental lines 
distinctly running between the coxal plates of the second and third 
pairs of legs ; but besides these the segmental lines of the back like- 
wise pass onto the lower surface, not, however, as simple circularly 
environing lines, but (and this is particularly distinct in the poste- 
rior ones) they bend forward in the middle of the abdomen, and 
run round the sexual aperture, occupying this laterally, so that, by 
this means, the anus and sexual aperture appear as if placed in the 
same last segment. The course of the segmental lines of the more 
anteriorly situated abdominal segments could not be distinctly traced 
on the lower surface. The sexual aperture is of considerable size, 
and is closed by two larger convex valves, which are hollowed 
within, and each furnished with three somewhat oval sucking-disks. 
The outer surface of these valves, like the surface of the coxal 
plates, is covered with a reticulated system of lines; at the margin 
of each valve there is a close-set series of short feathered sete, by 
which the fissure between the plates is partially closed. 
“As regards the limbs, all four pairs of legs are quite similarly 
formed. The number of joints in the anterior legs is five; in the 
posterior legs there are six free joints. All the feet are armed with 
three claws. The palpi are five-jointed ; and the apex of the fifth 
joint is closely covered with a number of shortly-plumose sete. 
The mandibles are cheliform, short, and rather convex. 
‘‘ Unfortunately, in the single specimen available for examina- 
tion it could not be discovered where the tracheal aperture was, or, 
indeed, whether any trachev existed, so that the systematic posi- 
tion of this remarkable animal must remain undetermined. The 
presence of well-developed eyes, however, renders it probable that 
this mite is to be placed near the Trombidia. 
“ Its significance in the abdominal question, however, is the most 
important point in the observation of our mite. It is evident that 
in examining it we find three natural divisions—the capitulum 
(mouth-segment), thorax, and abdomen, and this last again divided 
into distinct segments. In accordance with this we also observe 
buccal limbs, thoracic limbs (in two pairs), and abdominal limbs 
(also in two pairs)— Archiv fir Naturg. 1882, p. 178. 
