134 [Assembly, 



and hard-shelled, also occurred in the cavities with the Myriopods. 

 One of them was Uropoda Americana Riley. Its presence here 

 and mode of occurrence shows that it is not necessarily attached to 

 other living forms, by its excremental thread. Another, present 

 in large numbers, was apparently a species of Gamasns, but not 

 the Gamasus juloides of Say, which has been observed upon the 

 body of Jxilus marginatus and Polydesmus Virginiensis (Say's 

 Entomology, ii, p. 18), nor can it at present be referred to any 

 known species. If not identical with some European species, it is 

 probably an un described form. 



It is of a somewhat larger size than Uropoda Americana, more 

 shining and of a darker brown color. While that species has its 

 greatest breadth posteriorly, this is broader anteriorly, and it is 

 more prolonged at each end. It has a distinct sternal plate (not 

 occurring in the other), and also a distinct cylindrical projection 

 near the margin, between the second and third pairs of legs. The 

 posterior legs are placed at about the middle of the body, while in 

 Americana they are placed behind the middle. 



The above differential features have been pointed out by Prof. 

 Riley, upon comparison with his types of U. Americana. Should 

 the species prove to be undescribed, it may be named as Gamasus 

 ohovatus. 



None of the above mites were observed upon the Myriopods, 

 and they are believed to have been feeding on the potato. 



A few examples of a small staphylinid beetle, which has been 

 identified as Oxytelus rugosus (Fabr.), were also found associated 

 with the above. 



Remedial Measures. — The injuries committed by the "thou- 

 sand-legged worms" to garden and field crops have long been 

 known, without the discovery of any simple method adapted for 

 general use for their arrest. Some of the species which visit the 

 surface of the ground at night for feeding, may be attracted by 

 slices of potatoes or other vegetables laid upon the ground, and 

 collected from them in the morning and destroyed. But this 

 method, of course, could not be available in an infested potato 

 field. 



Perhaps the only substances that could be used for destroying 

 the worms while in the ground would be gas-lime or alkali waste 

 from gas-works. A liberal application of either of these, when 



