Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 463 



the sawing mandibles and as these were more deeply inserted 

 it bent beneath the head with the elasticity of a bow, forcing 

 the mandibles into the wound until the obtuse maxillae were 

 embedded in the epidermis. When the proboscis was fully 

 inserted the abdomen ceased for a time its lateral swinging. 



An acute pain \vas felt when the mandibles had half way 

 penetrated and subsequently during each distinct movement of 

 the abdomen. The swinging of the body continued at inter- 

 vals of one to three minutes during the first fifteen minutes. 

 In the next twenty minutes the lateral movement ensued every 

 eight minutes and toward the end of the process the abdomen 

 moved once very slightly. After the first twenty minutes the 

 sting of the biting was not discernible ; indeed, after the first 

 sensation of pricking the pain became duller. This was experi- 

 enced quite distinctly four times during the process. The 

 only intimation received that the parasite was pursuing its 

 bloody quest toward the end of the experiment was a feeble 

 downward thrust of the springy bow-like labium accompanied 

 by the feebler oscillations of the elevated abdomen, through 

 the translucent walls of which could be discerned a peristal- 

 tic flow of blood, caudally from the pharynx. 



During the prehensile function the antepygidial bristles 

 waved once quite perceptibly, and the mid-tarsi maintained a 

 constant rhythmic aerial vibration. At the end of fifty-nine 

 minutes the victim tired of maintaining the hand in one posi- 

 tion, and changed the attitude too abruptly, jarring the indus- 

 trious flea, which quickly withdrew its proboscis by lowering 

 the abdomen and legs and shaking the head laterally. 



Prior to being bottled this untiring guest appeared much 

 perturbed at the interference with its sanguinary feast. It 

 wandered about seeking for another inviting spot an oasis for 



its five day thirst. 



** 



\ COCKROACH NEW To THE UNITED STATES. Among some undeter- 

 mined material from Arizona in the collection of the National Museum 

 has turned up an adult female of Steleopyya rhoinbifolia Stoll. This 

 constitutes a new record for our fauna. The specimen was taken by 

 Mr. E. J. Oslar, at Nogalcs, Arizona, in 1905, June 14. A. N. CAUDELL. 



