Clare Island Survey — Acarinida. 39 69 



each with a hair, and behind these are two small plates placed transversely. 

 The ventro-anal shield is of peculiar structure, it is very large, and is certainly 

 continuous with the second dorsal shield; its anterior margin is incised, 

 leaving a wedge-shaped piece projecting from the centre of the shield. The 

 peritreme runs in a sinuate line close to the body margin, stigma opposite 

 the last acetabula. 



Capitulum transverse, hinder margin strongly convex, and there are 

 four pairs of hairs on the maxillary plate ; the lobes are rather club-shaped 

 with pointed extremities. Epistome trispinous, central spine shorter than 

 the others. Chelicer-ae (fig. 15&), the free chela is greatly swollen at the 

 base, and the claw-like terminal part is without teeth, a very long, slender 

 process springs from the base, it is like that of Gamasellus captator, but its 

 extremity is not curved round, as it is in that species, but is continued on a 

 sinuate line ; fixed chela with one strong tooth. Palps small and rather 

 stout, inner side of last segment with a bifurcated spine at the base. Legs 

 short and robust, second pair extremely thick, femur with a strong curved 

 spine, patella and tibia with a small tooth ; on the inner side of the tarsus 

 (fig. 15c) there is a stout knife-like spur with a pointed extremity reaching 

 as far as the end of the segment ; fourth leg stouter than the third, upper 

 side of femur with two stout hairs. 



Female. — A figure of what I believe is the female of this species will be 

 found on PI. VI, fig. 15d. The length is 352^ and the breadth 15V. 



Localities. — Found under bark of decayed trees in the Westport demesne 

 in July ; the above-mentioned female specimens occurred on fallen pine- 

 cones on Achill Island in September. I have also found the male under 

 bark of fir trees at Friarstown in the Dublin moixntains during April and at 

 Drirnnagh near Dublin in January. 



Family LAELAPTIDAE. 



Laelaps (Eulaelaps) stabularis C. L. Koch. 



A number of specimens, including both young and adult forms, were 

 found on a field mouse caught on Clare Island by Dr. Patten. 

 Distribution. — Europe, parasitic on rodents. 



Laelaps (Eulaelaps) agilis 0. L. Koch. 



A single specimen of this species occurred in the same habitat in company 

 with the preceding species. 



Distribution. — Widespread in Europe. 



R.I.A. PEOC, VOL. XXXI. K 39 



