128 

 Genus LXXVIII. ACARUS, 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Mouth with a rostrum inclosed in a sheath. 

 Eyes two, situated on each side of the head. 

 Two articulated tentacula in the form of feet. 

 Legs eight. 



General Observations. 



This is a numerous genus, and contains a 

 well-known inhabitant of our mouldy cheese. 

 Without the assistance of the microscope no- 

 thing could have been known of this diminutive 

 being; but with such powerful aid we are en- 

 abled to discover a moveable lump of transpa- 

 rent fat, with eight legs, and a body scattered 

 with long hairs. Such is the common mite, 

 which is seen moving from one particle of cheese 

 to another, with an awkward action of the legs, 

 and dragging after it, seemingly with difficulty, 

 its gross and unwieldy body. Leuwenhoek, 

 that indefatigable observer of the microscopic 

 world, tells us that mites are oviparous, laying 

 very small, white, oval eggs ; that the young 



