2?2 Annals of the South African Museum. 



the same species from South Africa, but from a different host. The 

 greatest care, therefore, requires to be exercised in erecting new 

 species. 



Where the numbers of a species have permitted dissections have 

 been made to facilitate examination of certain internal features 

 chiefly in the genitalia on which experience has shown reliance 

 may be placed for specific determinations. In this way one not 

 infrequently finds that the claims of an insect to specific rank vanish, 

 but conversely the critical test of the genitalia show that many 

 so-called varieties are distinct species. There is often a wonderful 

 resemblance in general facies, colour, dimensions, and chaetotaxy 

 in the latter cases, and it is never really safe to give an opinion as 

 to the status of two closely similar Philopterid forms from different 

 hosts till the $ genitalia have been dissected. 



(2) As every student of the Mallophaga knows, the phenomenon 

 of " straggling " exhibited in this order affords most fascinating 

 problems. It may seem that many of the following records are 

 unusual, but much weight cannot be attached to such occurrences 

 owing to the conditions under which the bulk of the collections have 

 been made. When, from notes supplied by Dr. Peringuey, it is 

 evident that the parasites of one host have been accidentally trans- 

 ferred to another in the taxidermist's room, the labelling has been 

 corrected without remark. 



No special order has been followed for the Siphonaptera and the 

 Anoplura, as there is comparatively little material (10 spp. in all) 

 from these groups. The Mallophaga have been arranged mainly 

 according to Kellogg in Wytsman's Genera Insectorum, 66 me Fasci- 

 cule " Mallophaga " (1908). At the same time most of Mjoberg's 

 (1910) sub-divisions into families have been adopted. The species 

 of Lipeunis recorded in the following pages will ultimately occupy 

 several genera, but at present it seems premature to essay the diffi- 

 cult task of division. 



We desire to thank the Carnegie Eesearch Trust for the use of a 

 dissecting microscope. Professor V. L. Kellogg, Stanford University, 

 Gal., has supplied valuable material for comparison, and to him also 

 we would express our indebtedness. In one or two special points 

 particularly in verifying certain references which could not be 

 attempted by one so far from the centre the assistance of Mr. 

 B. F. Cummings, British Museum, and the Hon. N. Charles 

 Eothschild, M.A., has been invoked and cordially given. All 

 these friends we have pleasure in thanking now. 



