116 Dr. Johnston on the Acarides of Berwickshire. 



portionally the same as of the first, but their tarsal joint is ta- 

 pered to a point and less setose, and the setse are also much 

 shorter and more like those of the basilar joints. 



The oral apparatus consists of a triangular process with a 

 rather suddenly contracted apex. It is formed of two short and 

 adnate mandibles, from between which two filiform simple sty- 

 lets can be forced by compression. 



The body appears to be naked, for I could discover no bristles 

 on it, and there are only visible, with a high magnifier, a few 

 obtusely headed, very short setose appendages on the back and 

 margin, the nature of which is not very obvious*. I have seen 

 in several specimens one or two oviform bodies of a red colour, 

 and consisting of a congeries of minute globules ; and I believe 

 these to be really the ova. They are comparatively large, and 

 occupy nearly the centre of the body. This is liable to some 

 slight variation in colour. It is sometimes of a uniform dark 

 red colour with duskier shades, but there is, in by far the larger 

 number of individuals, a brighter-coloured band down the centre 

 of the back. 



I refer this Mite to the genus Bryobia. The legs, in propor- 

 tion to each other, and in their form, are like those of this genus, 

 or of Linopodes ; it is here in the first pair only that the tarsal 

 joint makes an approach to the heaviness and enlargement it 

 has in genuine Rhyncholophi ; and in the other legs that joint 

 tapers to the end. As in Bryobia, the thorax is separate from 

 the abdomen by a line or transverse suture ; but in Linopodes 

 the palpi are otherwise constructed and seem to have no pendent 

 appendage. 



The species is not figured by Hermann. It is moderately 

 quick in its motion, which offers no peculiarity for notice. I 

 have received numerous specimens (June 1, 1850) from Mr. 

 Hardy. He finds it swarming under stones by wall-sides at 

 Penmanshiel at an earlier part of the season ; " and now it has 

 issued forth, and is attacking the grasses, in the manner of the 

 red- spider. The quicken is most affected, the leaves being quite 

 speckled with white, and they leave behind them a number of 

 black excrementitious spots which shine like honey-dew. They 

 occur likewise upon Ranunculus repens." I found several spe- 

 cimens in a tuft of moss which I brought from the dean above 

 Akeld. 



The dorsal scarlet fascia is more or less distinct, sometimes 

 only a spot near the extremity. 



* These are similar to the appendages figured hy Koch on Bryobia 

 speciosa, hut they are scarcely so regularly placed. On a careful inspection 

 I perceived that the back of the mite was crossed by three raised lines, one 

 from shoulder to shoulder and two farther back, and the clubbed processes 

 are placed on these lines. But I could not often nerceive these lines at all. 



