Clare Island Survey. 



39 

 ACARINIDA. 



By J. N. HALBERT, M.B.I.A. 



Section I. — Hydracarina. 

 Plates I.-III. 



Read February 27. Published May 30, 1911. 



This paper deals with the species of fresh-water mites (Hydracarina) 

 inhabiting Clare Island and the neighbouring district. It is mainly the result 

 of two collecting expeditions organized since the Clare Island Survey was 

 begun in the spring of 1909, when nothing was known of the water-mite 

 fauna of the district in which the island is situated. 



The first of these expeditions was carried out in the beginning of June, 1909, 

 when numerous gatherings of these interesting creatures were made in the 

 neighbourhood of Westport and Castlebar, and also at A chill Island, in the 

 lakes and bog-pools lying between A chill Sound and Dugort. On this 

 occasion, also, a few clays were devoted to the fauna of Clare Island. Towards 

 the end of July in the following year about a fortnight was spent collecting in 

 the district between Belclare and Louisburgh on the southern shore of Clew 

 Bay; and it may be mentioned that this part was more thoroughly searched 

 for Hydracarina than was the corresponding district to the north of the bay. 



In order to make the list more representative, a few species collected in 

 the neighbouring highlands of County Gal way — which certainly belong to the 

 same faunistic area — are also included. The locahties are as follows : — 



Ballynahinch Lake, Connemara, eleven species collected in June, 1900, by 



W. F. de V. Kane. 

 G-lendalough Lake, Connemara, forming part of the same chain of lakes as 



the preceding, fourteen species collected by myself in September, 1905. 

 Garranbawn Lake, near Balliuakill, ten species collected by G. P. Favran 



in June, 1901. 

 Cartron Mountain, near Letterfrack, three species collected by S. W. Kemp 



in March, 190-4. 

 Lake near Clifden, seven species collected by W. F. de V. Kane in 



June, 1900. 



R. I. A. PROC, VOL. XXXI. A 39 



