1 6 Transactions of the Society. 



Dam^us monilipes, n. sj). PL II. Figs. 1-5. 



Average length about "34 mm. 

 „ breadth „ '18 „ 

 ' „ length of legs, 1st pair, about "l? mm. 



„ „ 2ud and 3rd pairs, about '15 mm. 



„ „ 4th pair, about • 19 mm. 



This is an extremely minute but rather elaborately formed 

 species. I have included it provisionally in the genus Damseus, 

 but that genus will probably require division — perhaps by reviving 

 Koch's genus Oppia, and properly defining it, in which case the 

 present might well serve for a type-species. The colour is rather 

 light brown, and has a whitish shade over some of the raised parts. 

 It is not very strongly chitinized, and is indeed rather more leathery 

 in texture than most of the family, except the genus Nothrus, and, 

 like many other Oribatidm which have this texture, and are thus 

 not as fully protected as harder species, it makes up for the 

 deficiency by covering itself with dirt to such an extent that it is 

 almost impossible to get it clean, its very small size being an addi- 

 tional difficulty. The figure and this description are taken from a 

 carefully cleaned specimen, otherwise many of the details would not 

 be seen. Another source of error, which must be avoided in iden- 

 tifying the species, is that the elevations on the dorsum of the 

 abdomen are apt to lose their form and be very difficult to see 

 shortly after death, particularly if treated with reagents. By care, 

 however, the true form may be preserved. 



The division between the cephalothorax and abdomen is very 

 marked. The actual rostrum is short and conical, not a third of 

 the length of the dorsum of the cephalothorax. Behind this the 

 cephalothorax is covered by a tectum or its homologue, but the 

 whole of it is anchylosed to the surface of the cephalothorax, and 

 does not stand free. The lateral edges are straight or slightly con- 

 cave, but very rough. The anterior edge is rather convex ; the 

 wings of the tectum are well marked, and are also anchylosed to 

 the surface of the cephalothorax; they are reflexed, sloping 

 downwards on the side of the cephalothorax. A strong ridge runs 

 along the juncture of each wing with the tectum, and this ridge 

 projects forward beyond the edge of the tectum, forming a strong, 

 rough, curved point, terminated by a hair ; indeed, it seems to have 

 taken the place of the projection frequently found at the anterior 

 edge of the wing. The whole tectum is reticulated, but the reticu- 

 lations are not easily seen on the wings. Behind the juncture of 

 the tectum the cephalothorax rises suddenly, and forms a rough 

 central lump, at the edges of which are the stigmatic tubes pro- 

 jecting to an unusual degree, the stigmata opening at the extreme 

 edge of the body. The stigmatic organs (or hairs) are long, 

 spatulate, rough, and point upward, outward, and backward. 



