MITE FOUND ON A PORCUPINE 
81 
A MITE FOUND ON A YOUNG PORCUPINE CAUGHT 
IN PARKLANDS, NAIROBI, EAST AFRICA, EARLY 
IN 1912 
By J. K. Creighton 
Specimens of these mites were forwarded to the British 
Museum (Natural History) in June 1912. Mr. Hirst, who 
dealt with the specimens, informed me that they belonged to an 
undescribed species of the genus Leiognathus, Gamasidce. The 
cox88 of the legs of the second pair have a curious hook-like 
structure, which seems characteristic of this species. 
When my boys started skinning the porcupine they were 
furiously attacked by the ‘ mites,’ their bite causing sharp pain 
more like the sting of a wasp than a bite ; but the irritation only 
lasted a short time, and did not cause swellings or appear to 
leave any evil results behind. I pointed out to the British 
Museum that these mites attacked human beings. 
Mr. Hirst in reply states : ‘ I have only read of a single 
instance of mites of this family attacking a human being. A 
woman was badly bitten by specimens of Lcelaps agilis, Koch, 
a species occurring on rats, and the bites gave rise to a kind of 
fever.’ 
It appears very little work has been done on these Acaridae, 
and many of the tropical species have not yet been described, 
a fact that seems to me most extraordinary when it is remem- 
bered that mites infest smaller mammalia, such as rats, and are 
known to attack human beings. 
It may be that mites will eventually be found to be carriers 
of disease as well as ticks and fleas, &c. 
Nairobi, Oct. 10, 1913. 
IMMATURE BONGO 
(Photo taken by H. J. Twigg) 
The photograph represents an immature female Bongo 
(Be deer os euryceros) shot by Mr. H. J. Twigg, near Escarpment, 
at an altitude of about 9000 feet, during March of this year. 
To those who know anything of Bongo hunting it will not be 
Vol. IV.— No. 7. 
G 
