Some Ectoparasites in the South African Museum. 287 



narrow elongated black spots. These are often defective. In 

 liiigulatus all 6 are present the median pair (st. 5) being 

 broader and showing as well in some specimens on inwardly 

 projecting anterior angle. In felix all 6 are moderately broad the 

 median pair being wider than the others and connected at the inner 

 anterior angles by a dark linear band. As regards markings, then, 

 punctatus, liiigulatus, and felix form undoubtedly a graduated series. 



It is desirable that, when possible, specific definitions should be 

 based on morphological characters. In the Mallophaga we believe 

 the best characters are to be found in (a) the head, and (c) the 

 <? genitalia, and occasionally, too, those of the $ . The characters 

 to be relied on in these regions are the shape and chaetotaxy. 



We have critically examined typical punctatus and var. lingulatus, 

 and find their agreement very complete. Professor Kellogg beautifully 

 illustrates N. felix, G. (New Mallophaga, pt. i. pi. vi. figs. 3, 4, 

 1896), and though no details of the genitalia are alluded to in the 

 corresponding text (p. 110), we think that two remarks maybe safely 

 ventured. 



I. That felix is more closely related to punctatus than to any 

 other of the gull Nirmi. This is seen in the shape of the head and 

 in the figure of the genitalia which, though drawn on a small scale, 

 are easily seen to be of the punctatus type. The genitalia of punc- 

 tatus are unique so far as we know in the group to which the species 

 belongs. The pararnera are broad and abruptly bent at a little 

 beyond half-way from the base. The extreme top of each paramer 

 is darkened and the rest of the apparatus consists of a delicate 

 hyaline chitin. Thus the species may be said to maintain its 

 "punctatus" character throughout. In lineolatus the paramera 

 are evenly bent, dark and of moderate breadth. This is a common 

 type (see Kellogg, loc. cit. pi. vi. figs. 7-8). The pararnera of felix 

 are of the peculiar "punctatus " type, being, according to Kellogg's 

 figure, broad and sharply bent. They differ, however, in being 

 completely darkened, which would incline one to expect some 

 concomitant structural difference indicating a valid species. These 

 facts, together with what has been said about the markings, rein- 

 force the view of the affinities of felix suggested above. 



II. Piaget (1880) (Les Pediculines, p. 201) held that felix is a 

 variety of punctatus. Kellogg holds the contrary view. The 

 following, then, would seem to be the alternatives. 



(a) That felix is a richly marked variety of punctatus in which the 

 dark coloration at first in spots has assumed the form of bands, in- 

 vading also finally the lateral bands and the usually colourless genitalia. 



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