OF WASHINGTON. 203 
the nest at the same time, leaving the old queen in possession. 
The young queens did not start colonies until the following 
spring. 
Mr. Ashmead offered some remarks on the genus Tetracnemus. 
He called attention to the fact that Westwood first described a 
species with five tarsal joints. Then Walker described one with 
only four, considering the five of Westwood a mistake. Mr. Ash- 
mead showed specimens of two distinct genera, both agreeing 
nearly with Westwood's description, but the one with four, the 
other with five, tarsal joints, showing that Westwood was right in 
placing his genera in the Encyrtincc, while the form described by 
Walker belongs to the Eulophlnce. He collected both in Florida. 
MARCH 7, 1889. 
Eight persons present. President Schwarz in the chair. 
The death of a Corresponding member, Mr. S. Lowell Elliott, 
was announced as occurring in Brooklyn, N. Y., February 12, 
1889. 
The following communication by Judge Johnson, referring to 
specimens of a flea which he had previously sent to the Society,* 
was then read : 
THE JIGGER FLEA OF FLORIDA. 
BY LAWRENCE C, JOHNSON. 
Probably our fair land of orange groves and alligators possesses as many 
varieties of the flea family as any other in the same latitude, but one of 
them seems to be peculiar. The " Crackers " as the native-born English- 
speaking folks are called know it by the name of the "jigger flea," which 
is a translation, or, strictly speaking, a transference, of the local colonial 
Spanish title, the " Chigo flea," which means, it seems, that to the popu- 
lar understanding it is not the " Chigo " of the West Indies', nor their old 
acquaintance from Spain, the flea, but something compounded of both. 
Observation of the habits of this insect verify the appropriateness of the 
designation. All its habits all its life-history, are not yet known ; but 
from such as are actually known, a few others may be inferred. 
*See 
