Some Ectoparasites in the, South African Museum. 283 



DOCOPHOBUS ROSTRATUS, N. 



D. rostratus, Nitzsch, in Giebel, Ins. Epiz. p. 76, pi. x. fig. 4 (1874). 

 2jJ. Bubo capensis. 



See remarks under cursor. Apparently a scarcer species. 



GEN. NIRMUS, Nitzsch. 

 Nirmus, Nitzsch, in Germar's Mag. f. Insekt. vol. 3, p. 291 (1818). 



NIRMUS ACTOPHILUS, Kell. and Chap. (1899). 



N. actophilus, Kellogg and Chapman, New Mallophaga, iii. p. 78, 



pi. vi. fig. 4 (1899). 

 See also N. holophaeus, Nitzsch, in Giebel, Ins. Epiz. p. 158, pi. v. 



fig. 1 (1874). 



N. subcingulatus, Nitzsch, in Giebel, Ins. Epiz. p. 158 (1874). 

 ? . Tringa subarquata. 



This is a Nirmus of the holophaeus, N., type (Machetes). But 

 holophaeus is only one member of a very bewildering series of 

 which actophilus is perhaps the smallest term. Possibly N. sub- 

 cingulatus, N. (Strepsilas interpres), denotes the present insect, but 

 we prefer in the meantime to use Kellogg and Chapman's name as 

 their figure and description more recognizably apply to the above 

 $ and similar material in our own collection. 



NIRMUS DECIPIENS, N. (1818). 

 Nirmus decipiens, Nitzsch, in Giebel, Ins. Epiz. p. 162, pi. xv. fig. 4 



(1874). 

 8 $ , 9 ? ? , 3 imni. Recurvirostra avocetta (Avocet). Dec., 



1912. Philipstown, C.P. 



Three species of Nirmus appear to be peculiar to the Avocet, and 

 Dr. Peringuey has fortunately secured all (see in addition under 

 N. pileus, N., and N. signatus, P.). Dr. Yngve Sjostedt collected 

 the two last-named from R. avocetta, Natron Lakes, Kilimandjaro- 

 Meru, but did not take the present insect. (See Kellogg, Wissen- 

 schaft. Ergeb. der Schwedisch., Zoolog. Exped. Nachdem Kilimand- 

 jaro, etc. Deutsch. Ostafrickes, 1905-1906, 15 Corrodentia, 4 Mallo- 

 phaga, p. 47. Uppsala (1908).) 



NIRMUS GRACILIS, N. (1818). 



Nirmus gracilis, Nitzsch, in Giebel, Ins. Epiz. p. 143, pi. v. 

 figs. 11, 12 (1874). 

 $ . Hirundo rustica. 



