37G JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV. 



stoneflies, May-flies, caddis-flies, lace-wing flies, ant-lions, &c, and the 

 ■wingless bird-lice. 



FiG. 23 — A Common dragon-fly. Tetlnus rapax (Calcutta). §rd* nat. size. 

 Present knowledge and observations on these insects tend to show 

 that with the exception of the termites they are not of great importance as 

 pests. For our purpose it will be sufficient to consider shortly six families, 

 a seventh, the Termitidce, being dealt with in somewhat greater detail. 



Fam. I. Mallophaga.— Bird-Lice or Biting Lice. 

 These are flat wingless insects furnished with a large head ; thorax 

 usually of two, rarely of one or three segments ; prothorax always dis- 

 tinct, hind body consisting of 8 to 10 segments in addition to the two 

 posterior thoracic segments. The whole of the insects of this family live 

 a parasitic life, creeping about on those parts that are near the skin, the 

 feathers or the hair of birds and mammals. They rarely come near the 

 surface, so that they are not detected on a superficial examination. The 

 legs are specially adapted for climbing amongst hair and feathers, as the 

 last joint of the foot is hook-shaped and can be bent back against the pre- 

 ceding joint ; a hair can thus be held fast between the two joints. Tho 

 eggs are fastened by the mother louse to the hairs, etc., of the host. These 

 insects either suck the blood of the host or eat the fir or feathers. Lice 

 multiply very rapidly on the bodies of human beings and animals when 

 insufficiently cleansed, and under these circumstances more on sick and 

 ill-nourished individuals than on healthy and well-nourished ones. 



