306 Annals of the South African Museum. 



FAMILY LIPEUEIDAE. 



GEX. LIPEUEUS, Nitzsch. 

 Lipeurus, Nitzsch, in Germar's Mag. f. Insekt. vol. 3, p. 292 (1818). 



LIPEURUS ACUTIFBONS, Endow (1870). (PL XXV., fig. 1.) 

 L. acutifrons, Eudow, Zeitsch. f. d. ges. nat. xxxvi. p. 138 (1870). 

 $ , 5 . Phalacrocorax capensis (Trek Duiker). Table Bay, 1913. 

 3 , 4 $ $ , 4 imm. Phalacrocorax capensis. 



This is the true host. 

 2 $ $ , 2 $ $ . Sul a capensis. 

 $ and ? . Lams hartlaubi. 

 2 $ $ . " Probably ex porcupine." 



All the above, we believe, came from the cormorant. It is note- 

 worthy that the parasites of Sula capensis and Phalacrocorax 

 capensis (L. pullatus, M. pustuloswu L. acutifrons, M. brevipalpe) 

 have been completely mixed (see records). This probably took 

 place in collecting the hosts. A similar explanation will apply to 

 the Larus hartlaubi record. As for the occurrence of L. acutifrons 

 on the porcupine, contact in the laboratory may account for it, 

 or more likely two lobs were inadvertently put into one tube. We 

 do not think any real " straggling " is to be inferred. 



We go back to Eudow's name for the distinct species of Lipeurus 

 infesting Phalacrocorax capensis. Perhaps this decision requires 

 justification, as many workers will probably be of opinion that 

 not a few (some will say most) of Eudow's names are too vaguely 

 defined for recognition. Personally we are quite opposed to dealing 

 with an author's descriptions en bloc or according to any one 

 principle. A description deemed sufficient at one stage of the study 

 of a group may be quite inadequate later. To reject a name because 

 of its " insufficiency " would destroy much of the historical con- 

 tinuity of the study of the Mallophaga besides producing periodical 

 outcrops of new names. No one, of course, would plead that the 

 same leniency should be shown to Eudow as is extended to 

 founders like Nitzsch and Denny, whose work was accomplished 

 with instruments inferior to those that every student now com- 

 mands. Granted that Eudow's text is often unrecognizable per se t 

 there may yet be no reasonable doubt as to the insect to which his 

 names refer. Not to go beyond the genus Lipeurus any one who 

 has examined series of the ruddy "jejunus " type found on Soma- 

 teriamollissima will not hesitate to use for this form " rubromaculatus, 

 Eudow." On the other hand, in the case of a name like L. nigricans, 



