THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE BLACK-CURRANT GALL-MITE. 369 
Distribution by Insects. 
When the mites were first observed on the outside of the 
abortive buds, one curious point in their behaviour attracted 
attention, even under the slight magnification of a pocket-lens. 
Though some were actively crawling about, others appeared to 
be standing on end, and motionless, except for the waving of 
their legs. A series of observations and experiments were 
undertaken with a view to ascertaining the precise nature and 
purpose of this phenomenon, with the following results :— 
A migrating mite, after crawling for a short distance in the 
manner already described, would obtain a firmer hold upon the 
surface of the bud with its tail-dise and assume an upright 
attitude (Pl. 33. figs. 5,6, 9, Pl. 34. figs. 14,15). ‘The necessary 
hold was not always gained at the first attempt, the dise some- 
times slipping, and here again the tail-bristles came into play, 
serving to anchor the animal to the bud and to give a certain 
amount of prop-like support to its rigid body. The position was 
not necessarily vertical, but at right angles to the supporting 
surface, and frequently oblique or even horizontal, and it was. 
remarkable how the vermiform, soft-bodied mite would maintain 
for several minutes an attitude apparently so ill adapted to its 
structure. All the time its four short legs would be waving 
wildly in the air. A number of mites standing up in this way 
bore a remarkable resemblance to diminutive Hydras with 
greatly retracted tentacles. 
After indulging in this performance for a period varying from 
one to five minutes, the mite would generally relax its rigid 
attitude, bring down its feet to the surface again, and continue 
its progress by crawling, only to resume its upright position and 
erotesque waving of legs a little farther on. 
This behaviour was highly suggestive of a desire, on the part 
of the mite, to attach itself to any passing object, and its readi- 
ness to do so was easily proved in the most conclusive manner. 
Tf touched with a needle-point, it immediately let go its hold on 
the bud and was carried off on the needle. A camel’s-hair brush 
or a feather applied to an infested bud was found to be swarming 
with mites on subsequent examination. In nature, the most 
likely carriers of the mites would, of course, be insects or 
arachnids. Accordingly spiders and insects of various kinds 
were either induced to run over infested buds, or examined 
after having been observed to come into contact with them spon- 
