m 



insects wore found on tlie arms of tlie infant as well as the face, on the hack, 

 neck and chest, and even the nipples of the adults. A favourite long-haired 

 French cat was examined, because one of the family after nursing it was 

 greatly annoyed, and the ears were found infested. The hair fell off, leaving 

 bald patches where the parasites were congregated on the dog and the cat. 

 In the middle of August the animals were shut up, isolated, and regularly 

 dressed with equal parts of sulphurous acid and glycerine, and the plague 

 began to diminish at once. The members of the household had tried citrine 

 ointment, compound sulphur ointment, detergent solution of tar, &c. ; but 

 still the nuisance continued in some degree, and a second cat was found 

 affected. But when all the animals were shut out of the house the mischief 

 did not cease. There was some doubt and difference of opinion with regard 

 to the exact species of the parasite. A specimen was submitted to my friend 

 Dr. Cobbold, and he pronounced it to be Tromhldium, or garden mite, 

 which lives on plants. It is closely related to the true mites, the itch- insect, 

 the little red "spider " of hot-houses, and the well-known Leptus aiitumnalis, 

 or " harvest-bug." The annoying pruritus about the legs produced by the 

 latter at the end of the summer, after a walk in the fields, &c., is well known 

 to every one ; and Dr. Heiberg has lately recorded that the nuisance 

 assumed an epidemic form in a village in Denmark. In the present case 

 the pruritus was chiefly around the neck and shoulders, and several parasites 

 were removed from the eyelids. The plants in the garden were not examined 

 to see if plant-mites were very abundant there, as this exact source was not 

 suspected at the time. There can be little doubt, I think, that the original 

 source must have been certain plants in the garden ; that the house pets, 

 who were undoubtedly first affected, were agents in the conveyance of the 

 main portion of the parasites to the human members of the family, but not 

 exclusively, the probability being that many of the people, especially after 

 the pet cats and dog were excluded from the house, managed to be infected 

 directly from the original source." 



Papers read. 



" Notes on the African Satnrnida in the Collection of the Royal Dublin 

 Society." By W. F. Kirby. 



" Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Phytopliagous Beetles 

 belonging to the Family Crijptocephalida:, together with Diagnoses and 

 Remarks on previously described Genera." By Joseph S. Baly, F.L.S. 



" Descriptions of new Species of Phytophagous Beetles belonging to the 

 Family Lamolplda', and a ^Monograph of the Genus Kiuiwlpus." By Joseph 

 S. Baiv, F.L.S.. Ac. 



