1 62 MINUTE MARVELS Ol- NATURE 



taininga large luimber of \'er)' unwelcome guests. 

 Next 1 washed the victim free from its irritating 

 visitors, after which I counted these torturing 

 mites, the family of which gave a total of seventy- 

 four in all. Some ot these I prepared for micrrj- 

 scopic observation, and two of them I have 

 photographed for the benefit of the reader. It 

 will be seen in Vig. 105 that the two bealv-like 

 mandibles have a fuzzy appearance. On examining 

 these organs under high magnifying powers, it is 

 found that each opens at its end after the manner 

 of pincers, revealing several teeth which fit tightly 

 together when once they have gripped their prey. 

 Their fuzzy appearance is due to their still retain- 

 ing a portion of their victim in their grip. In 

 Fig. 106 these mandibles will be seen to better 

 advantage, being considerably more magnified. 

 These elaborate jaws can be withdrawn sepa- 

 rately, or together, into the interior of the bodv, 

 and, I have good cause to believe, play an im- 

 portant part, combined with their curious, clawed 

 feet, in makino" a holdfast while the bee is makiny 

 its flight and entering flowers. 



P)Ut the bee is not the only insect that is troubled 

 with these unwelcom.e attendants. 1 have often 

 taken specimens of some of our most famiiar 

 butterflies and moths, which entertained an em- 

 barrassing company (jf such \'isitors. The Red 



