NEW PARASITIC MITES. 771 



basal half being oiil}^ slightl}- thickened, whilst the apical half is 

 fine. Anal 2)late present, being pyriform in shape and furnished 

 with three hairs as in Li2:>ojii/ftsiis etc. Pirst free segment of 

 palp apparently with a process. There is a median row of 

 minute denticles on the ventral surface of the base of the 

 capitulum. Anteriorly the second coxa is produced to form a 

 stout process or spur I'ather similar to that present in the same 

 position in LijJO'nyssus but thicker and blunter. The spinules or 

 hairs present on the proximal segments of the legs in Rhinonyssits 

 are I'eplaced by curious globular structures in this species ; a pair 

 being situated on each of the first three cox?e and a single globule 

 on the fourth coxa. Trochanter of first leg with two chitinous 

 globules ventrally, second and third trochanters each with three 

 globules and a short pointed spinule, fourth trochanter with 

 four globules and a short pointed spinule. Distal segments of 

 legs furnished with short pointed spinules. Claws of fir'st legs 

 only slightly curved (the claws of the other legs are missing in 

 the unique specimen). 



Length (with capitulum) '92 mm. 



Host: A bird {Sphecotheres rnaxillaris), Australia. Professor 

 Trouessart's collection. 



Neonyssus, gen, nov. 



Allied to LiponyssiijS but with the palpi shorter, the sternal 

 plate longer than wide, and the haii-s on the body and legs very 

 few in numbei'. Differing from lihinonyssus in the presence of 

 two dorsal shields (an anterior and a posterior one), instead 

 of only a single anterior shield. 



ISTeonyssus intermedius, sp. n, (Text-figs. 18, 19.) 



2 . Two dorsal shields both fairl}" large, their surface reticulated 

 and with numerous punctations, posterior shield with the hinder 

 end rather bluntly rounded ofi:'. Sternal shield longer than wide, 

 apparently there are no hairs on it, but tlsere are three miiiute 

 dots or circles on each side. Genito-ventral plate unusually short. 

 Anal plate similar to that of L'qyonyssus, being pear-shaped. 

 Palpus short, being very similar to that of lihinonyssus. 

 Apparently there is no median groove on the ventral surface of 

 the capitulum. With the exception of the pair on the anal plate 

 there seem to be no spines or hairs on the ventral surface. 

 Peritreme opening dorsallyasin Phinonyssus. Legs rather short, 

 apparently only the distal segments are furnished with hairs, a 

 dorsal hair on the tarsus of the third leg being longer than tlie 

 others, but still it is not very long ; there is also a pair of distal 

 spines on the ventral surface of this segment. Except for the 

 dorsal spur on the anterior surface of the second coxa which is 

 present but quite short (obsolete), the coxse are without hairs or 

 spines. 



It is possible that some of the hairs on the body and limbs of 



