OF THE HUMAN SKIN. 43 



it. Other cases were soon reported by observers 

 in Germany. 



We suppose, by this time, onr readers want to 

 know a little more about the insect itself, and per- 

 haps have had hardly patience to read down so far 

 as to learn about the strange-looking animal heading 

 our article. At present we include the itch-mite 

 in the special class of acarina, and if our readers 

 want to know more about the other members of 

 this class, as the sugar-mite, the cheese-mite, etc., 

 we would refer them to an article in the September 

 number of the "American Naturalist," for 1869, 

 by our friend A. S. Packard, Jr., who gives nu- 

 merous and beautiful illustrations, accompanied by 

 pleasantly told descriptions. What we here say will 

 fill up this chapter for the acarus scabiei, or sar- 

 cqptes homini, or itch-mite. The animal is tortoise- 

 shaped. The head distinct from the trunk, with 

 four pair of jaws. Eight legs, four in front and 

 four behind. The larva has but six legs. Beside 

 the legs are long bristles. The male differs from 

 the female in appearance, as to the bell-shaped 

 suckers on the ends of the legs, and also is not so 

 large. This insect has, besides man, been found 

 in the skin of the horse, lion, llama, ape, Neapol- 



