136 



ACAl'JNA OR MITES. 



Linguatulidae. — There are two quaiut genera of Araclinida 

 classed in the above family — namely, Pentastoma and LingtM- 

 tula. These curious worm-like Arthropods are parasitic, living 

 in the head and air-spaces of animals : they are more or less 

 elongated and vermiform in shape when adult, and have a 

 distinct annulated body. The mouth in the imago has no jaws, 

 but is surrounded by two pairs of hook-like legs. Like Acarina 

 they respire cutaneously. The one figured (ilg. 61, e), Lingua- 



Fl(i. 61. — LlNiiUATULID.E. 



A, Ovum. B, Larva, r, Pupal stage; a, anus ; b, mouth, d, Liiigttatula deuliatla- 

 turn. K, L. t'riuQdc^. (Alter RaiUiei and L^■ucka^t.) 



tula twnioJet:, is the commonest form, and may often be found 

 in domestic animals. At one time it was considered a tape- 

 worm, and unless carefully examined it certainly resembles some 

 of those worms. This acarus is dirty-white in colour, about 

 three-fourths to one inch in length in the male, somewhat larger 

 in the female. The female is often brown when full of ova. 

 These araohnida live in the nasal cavities, especially in the dog, 

 and there the female lays her eggs, ^^■hioh are sneezed out by 



