288 Annals of the South African Museum. 



(b) That it is a species closely approached by a variety, lingulatus, 

 of its nearest congener. 



NIEMUS SIGNATUS, Piaget (1880) . 



Nirmus signatus, Piaget, Les Pe'diculines, p. 186, pi. xv. fig. 8 (1880). 

 See also under N. decipiens, N. 



df , ? . Recurvirostra avocetta (Avocet). Dec. ,1912. Philipstown, 

 C.P. 



NIRMUS VARIUS, N. 



N. rarius, Nitzsch, in Giebel, Ins. Epiz. p. 130, pi. vii. figs. 2, 3 

 (1874). 



[Kellogg and Paine have already (Bull. Ent. Ees. ii. p. 147, 

 pi. v. figs. 5, 5a, July, 1911) recorded this species from Oshogbo, 

 S. Nigeria (Corvultur albicollis) and from Malachal, Egyptian 

 Sudan, on starling.] 



13 3 cT 6 $ ? , 5 imm. Host unknown, 

 18 $ S , 16 5 ? , 50 imm. Corvus capensis. 



We have not sufficient material from European hosts for com- 

 parison with the above, and cannot say how far they are typical. 

 The Docophorits of Corvus capensis (not reported on in this instal- 

 ment) taken with the above Nirmus does not seem referable strictly 

 to any of the usual corvine types. Much more, therefore, one might 

 expect the accompanying Nirmus to vary. So far as descriptions 

 carry one this does not seem to be the case. It must be remem- 

 bered that the corvine Docopliori are a very plastic group at least 

 as regards markings. 



NIRMUS VITTATUS, G. (1874). 

 N. vittatus, Giebel, Ins. Epiz. p. 127 (1874). 



By using this name we mean the raptorial Nirmus in which the 

 first abdominal band is medianly excised opposite a point-like mark 

 on the posterior margin of the metathorax. Most of the following 

 examples are referable to this well-defined type. 



35 3 $ , 20 $ ? , 5 imm. No date. 



From ButeojaJcal 14 $ $ , 16 ? $ , 40 imm. 1912. 



82 3 $ , 83 ? ? , 55 imm. 9 : iv : 13. 



18 S S , 12 2 2 , 6 imm. March, 1913. 

 9 S S , 95?, 4 imm. Philipstown, C.P. 



14 $ $ , 15 J $ , 9 imm. Eutomaetus spilog aster. 



4 $ 2 , 10 imm. Eutomaetus pennatus (Booted Eagle). 

 The last lot are much shrivelled. 



