Order Aoarina.
Family Oribatidæ.
Genus Oribata, Lat.
Oribata lamellata, sp. nov.

(Plate ii., figs. 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d.)

Cephalothorax, ½mm. long; abdomen, 1mm. long, 1mm. wide.

Black, opaque; tergum laminated; venter somewhat rugulose, closely punctated.

Cephalothorax arched, closely and deeply punctated; anterior half conical, posterior half suddenly widening; rostrum round pointed; rostral hairs long; palpi invisible from the dorsal aspect; pseudo-stigmata nearly at the base of the cephalothorax, but not hidden by the abdomen or lamellfe; pseudo-stigmatic organ rather short, with thin peduncles; the latter gradually thickening and terminating with somewhat clavate heads; apode-mata not joined to the sternum. Legs strong, closely and finely punctated, furnished with short, strong white hairs; claws tridactyle, heterodactyle. Abdomen strongly arched, somewhat oval, closely punctated, laminated, the plates overlapping, broadest about the middle, strongly keeled behind; genital and anal plates large, oval, and occupying nearly the whole length of the ventral plate.

In respect of this creature Mr. Hedley says:—" On the western side of the north arm of the mangrove swamp is a low scarp of breccia, apparently an old beach, and which is described more fully in the Section treating on the Geology of the Atoll. A dense growth of Ngia (Pemphis acidula) overhung this spot, and under fallen damp leaves and sticks beneath these bushes I found this animal in considerable abundance. Its movements were lethargic in the extreme."