170 
are long narrow tubes which lie along the sides closely connected 
with the muscular' layer of the intestine. Their point is directed 
downvards and inwards to reach to the ovipositor into which they 
discharge (pl. V fig.11). In the angle between the indrawn ovipositor 
and the oviducts thére is an oblong hollow sack, the comparatively 
thick walls of which consist of cells with distinet nuclei (pl, V 
fig. 11 9). Where the oviducts discharge into the ovipositor there 
is a little pocket directed backwards (fig. 114). The walls of-the 
oviducts are provided with a layer of distinct circular muscles. 
The Ovipositor. The ovipositor itself is a short: clumsy organ 
that may be fully invaginated into a sheath by a pair of muscles 
(pl. V fig. 117) so that it is completely received into the abdomen. 
When protruded the ovipositor is directed obliquely forwards and. - 
downwards and is provided behind with a hairy little median hill (fig. 9). 
Near the tip the inner upper wall is provided with a three-branched 
process (fig. 7, 8, 9 8), the two lateral larger branches of which 
are directed outwards, while the smaller median one is directed for- 
wards. When seen extended and from the side it is almost stalked, 
as the distal part is very much enlarged. 
11. Concluding Remarks. 
I have called the WNotostigmata a suborder of Acari , and this 
interpretation seems to me to be: the most natural, though I am 
not quite convinced about the systematic unity of this order. Such 
a doubt by one whose knowledge. in Acarology is comparatively 
small, is perhaps a little surprising, when a first-rate zoologist as 
Michael (10 pag. 27—49) discusses the natural relation between 
the different forms without restriction; but if we remember, that even 
Michael himself is not able to give a proper definition of the Acari 
(12 pag. 21), and that the order has a long tradition, originating 
in a time when it was not possible to grasp with them in a com- 
pletely scientific manner, it will certainly be found natural or at 
least excusable, to 'set forth doubts and eventually start a discussion. 
