34O ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., 'l2 



was turned over to me for observation. It was from some of 

 the nymphs from these eggs that the following observations 

 were made on the feeding habits of the very young. The eggs 

 were obtained from a patient's black coat which was covered 

 with them inside, so much so as to be nearly white in color. I 

 give the observations in detail, just as they are rather hastily 

 jotted down by me. 



Nymph I. 



Hatched 3Oth March, p. m. Body wholly silvery white, the eyes and 

 claws blackish. Taken at 8.21 p. m. and placed on arm. Took feed- 

 ing position at once and after i l / 2 minutes from start the first blood 

 entered, staining the thorax crimson. Remained feeding for n min- 

 utes, the blood gradually staining the thorax and m'eson of abdomen a 

 deep crimson, the rest of the abdomen salmon colored. Gradually the 

 abdomen swelled, finally forcing two minute red strings of dry excre- 

 ment from the anus; fed until nearly standing on head (really an- 

 terior legs), the intermediate and posterior legs free, waving slowly 

 in air. Blood plainly visible as it pulsated through the head. Legs, 

 head, prothorax and antennae remained white. Placed at once on 

 piece of cheese cloth and confined in a homeopathic vial, plugged 

 with cotton. After feeding, abdomen fully extended, cylindrical. 



By noon, March 3ist and sooner, the body had assumed its white 

 color again, saving the dark blotch at the dorsal aspect of the abdo- 

 men, centrally; minute pellets of crimson excrement adhering to the 

 anus. Thus the food obtained last night had been entirely digested. 

 At 12.16 p. m., 3ist, the portion of the cloth containing the young 

 louse was placed against the skin and without hesitation the nymph 

 crawled over on to the arm' and at once began to feed (12.16 p. m. to 

 12.31 p. m.) ; the entering blood could not be seen very distinctly but 

 gradually the abdomen became stained ; a small dry pellet of excre- 

 ment was voided as the abdomen filled. 



At 8.02 p. m., March 3ist, it was again fed, blood entering after 4 

 minutes and feeding continued for 3 minutes. At first, under 16- 

 candle power light as at first meal, nymph always crawled away from 

 food (naked arm) as in Nymph II. 



Placed on arm again at 1.07 p. m., April ist, the nymph then pallid 

 saving a dark blotch along the alimentary canal ; first blood entered 

 after 2 minutes and feeding continued til 1.20 p. m. ; went to food at 

 once; broad daylight. No signs of an ecdysis. By TO p. m., April ist, 

 the nymph was again pallid ; it eagerly went to food at 9.59 p. m,, the 

 first blood not entering however, until after 3^2 minutes of probing; 



