Miscellaneous. 475 



but only a puncture with its rostrum. 2. On the Argas reflexus, 

 so common in pigeon-houses, being merely a bloodsucker. 3. On the 

 puncture of the Ixodidac, generally, to which family Argas belongs, 

 producing a mechanical rather than a poisonous irritation, the teeth 

 of the rostrum being directed backwards. 4. On the possibility that 

 persons in a bad habit of body may have given rise to the Persian 

 story, from having suffered under the inflammation consequent on this 

 serrated nostrum being broken off in the wound. 5. On the fact, 

 that two species of Argas, and those of the genus Ixodes, that is, 

 two different genera, were exhibited under the denomination of 

 the poisonous bug of Mianneh ; " so that it would follow, if the col- 

 lector of these Arachnidije be correct, that not only Argas is in that 

 district of Persia a poisonous genus, but also Ixodes, a well known 

 generic group, troublesome enough in our own and other countries, 

 but never yet considered poisonous. Mr Hope remarked, that he 

 had heard of a poisonous Ixodes in St Domingo ; while Mr Macleay 

 added, that he also knew the St Domingo species, which was com- 

 mon in Cuba ; but that though it often covered the hides of the cat- 

 tle, tormenting them greatly, it was never considered poisonous, and 

 that Oviedo, an old Spanish writer, who describes them under the 

 name of Garrapata, long since held the same opinion. 



The eggs of the Ixodes produce a hexapod larva, which is the 

 typical form of the young of the Acaridea, which form so vast a 

 portion of the class Arachnida. 



In reference to Captain Ducane's paper, Mr Macleay made the 

 following remarks, which may be substituted for those at p. 375, 

 (Report of Tuesday, 12th September :) " If Thomson, who profes- 

 ses to have observed the developments of the crabs, and Rathke, 

 who professes to have observed the developments of the crayfish, 

 be both right, it will be a singular fact, that the Brachyurous deca- 

 podes undergo metamorphosis, while certain Macrourous decapodesdo 

 not undergo it. It was also singular, that if Captain Ducane, who 

 agrees with Thomson as to the metamorphosis of certain macrou- 

 rous decapod Crustacea, and Rathke were both right, then some ma- 

 crourous decapodes, such as prawns and shrimps, do undergo metamor- 

 phosis, and others, such as the crayfish, do not." Mr Macleay has since 

 his return from Liverpool received specimens of the " Ditch prawn," 

 (mentioned p. 376,) and found it to be a true prawn or Palemon, 

 the P. varians of Dr Leach, if indeed that species can be accurately 

 distinguished. 



Botanical Society of Edinburgh, July 13, 1837. — Dr Bal- 



