282 British Oribatidce : Notes on New and Critical Species. 
CARABODES Koch. 
C. marginatus Mich. (Plate C, fig. 11). 
C. nepos sp. n. (Plate C, figs. 2, 10). 
C. scymnus sp. n. (Plate C, figs. 1, 12). 
C. FEMORALIS Nic. 
C. CORIACEUS Koch. 
This is another group of several members so closely 
allied as to suggest variation within the limits of a species ; 
or, as some systematists prefer, two species, with a series 
of intermediates. Personally, I do not hesitate to say that 
there are here e ither five species, or one only ; and as I 
entirely agree with Tragardh that distinct forms are less 
likely to drop out of sight if recorded under definite names. 
I give the same rank to all the five. For I do not know a 
single reason except priority of record, for setting one form 
above the rest as the stem or type. To make it quite clear 
in what sense the specific names are here used, I append 
an ‘artificial ’ key of the British species of Carabodes in which 
the dorsum of the abdomen is marginate. 
1. Disk of the dorsum uniformly granulate 
Do. do. furrowed, not granulate 
2. Pseudostigmatic organ pointed at the end 
Do. do. bluntly clubbed 
3. All the aoisal hairs thick and white . . 
Marginal hairs neither thick nor white 
4. Dorsal hairs thick white conspicuous 
Do. inconspicuous caducous 
2. 
4 - 
marginatus. 
3 - 
nepos. 
scymnus. 
coriaceus. 
femoralis. 
By far the most abundant of these is scymnus (any 
remarks as to relative abundance within my own experience 
are to be understood of the counties of Northumberland and 
Durham). Next, but a long way behind, are femoralis, 
nepos and marginatus, in the order named, but fairly nearly 
equal. Last of all is coriaceus of which I have seen one 
example only (and that occurred casually in a tuft of moss 
sent to me for identification, from Durham Count}'). I give 
some further details of scymnus and nepos. 
C. scymnus sp. n. (Plate C., figs. 1, 12). 
Length from 450 to 500 fi. 
Uniformly black, except the lamellae which are often 
brownish, and the legs, which are of the normal yellow brown 
colour. 
Abdomen broadish oblong rounded behind, very nearly 
straight in front but sloping a little towards the obtuse 
shoulders ; the whole integument above and below strongly 
wrinkled so as to appear granulate. There is a distinct lateral 
and posterior border, of the same texture as the dorsum, 
broad and sloping at the shoulders, then narrower and nearly 
vertical, widening again behind. About midway it bears a 
Naturalist, 
