Further Notes on British Orihatidse. By A. D. Michael. 11 



This extremely minute species is principally distinguished by 

 the disproportionately large size and unusual shape of the stigmatic 

 organs, from which I have named it. 



The colour is light yellow-brown, and the whole dorsal surface 

 is highly polished. 



The cephalothorax is considerably narrower than the greatest 

 width of the abdomen, but at the actual point of juncture the 

 cephalothorax is slightly the wider, and is partially hidden by the 

 advancing anterior point of the latter. There is a small central 

 point to the rostrum, which then has a very obtuse angle, and, 

 after attaining nearly its full width, becomes more parallel-sided. 

 The cephalothorax widens suddenly at the anterior edge of the 

 tectum, which projects beyond the lateral margin of the rostrum. 

 The central portion, or tectum proper, although attached to the 

 cephalothorax by its whole surface, has the position of the lamellae 

 marked by two strong ridges joined by a transverse ridge anteriorly, 

 and also joined posteriorly, not far from the abdomen, by another 

 ridge, not straight, but forming three angles, the central pointing 

 backward, and the two lateral ones pointing forward ; after these 

 join the ridges which represent the lamellae, the two united ridges 

 turn sharply inward to escape, and border, the inside of the 

 stigmatic elevation. The stigmatic organs are of moderate length, 

 very hroad, and jlattened out, and resemlile the Jajoanese or Indian 

 fans, only that the distal margin is slightly undulated; these 

 organs are marked with lines of elevated dots, and from their large 

 surface they are blown about a little by the wind. 



The legs are of moderate length, the second joints very thin at 

 their insertion, but suddenly, and much enlarged, narrowing again 

 somewhat at the distal end ; the third joints very small and fine ; 

 the tibiae wineglass-shaped, much enlarged at the distal margin ; 

 the tarsi short and stout, the triple claws very heterodactyle. This 

 latter point, according to Nicolet's definition, would prevent the 

 creature being included in the genus Notaspis. The tibiae of the 

 first pair of legs have the tactile hair long, the tarsi have numerous 

 fine hairs, and there are one or two short spatulate hairs on each of 

 the other joints of each leg. 



The abdomen is elliptical, pointed anteriorly and posteriorly, the 

 anterior point being the sharpest. There is a close row of slaort, 

 curved spatulate hau'S round the margin, and two longitudinal 

 rows of about three similar hairs near the centre of the 

 notogaster. 



I have found the creature in decayed wood at Tamworth, in 

 Warwickshu'e, and at Epping Forest ; it is not common. I believe 

 it to be unrecorded. 



