Dec, 1906.] Descriptions of New Mallophaga, II. 35 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW MALLOPHAGA, II. 



E. P. DURRAXT. 



4. Physostomum merulae nov. sp. (Fig. 1, D.) 



Female: Body, length 4.7 mm., width 1.3 mm.; light ful- 

 vous, of rather uniform color except abdomen, which has the 

 lateral bands distinctly marked: of large size and evenly rounded 

 outline. 



Head, length .75 mm., width .75 mm. ; front broad and evenly 

 rounded, margins diverging somewhat and slightly swelling, 

 ocular notch medium, fleck distinct, notch with one small hair; 

 temple extended posteriorly, slightly obtuse, three large bristles 

 along margin evenly spaced, anterior two with one small hair 

 between; occipital margin deeply re-entering; labral lobes large; 

 antennal fossae well-marked by brown bands on lateral borders, 

 interior band much broader; palpi extending beyond margins; 

 anterior submargin with fotir long, and numerous short hairs. 



Thorax, length 1.20 mm., width 1.04 mm. ; prothorax broader 

 than long, a little narrower than head, anterior convex, posterior 

 concave, margins nearly straight except at anterior, which has a 

 rounded notch; the anterior angle has two small hairs and a 

 bristle; the rotinded posterior angle has one bristle; marginal 

 extensions of even width and clear. 



Metathorax larger than prothorax, rounded in front and 

 widely diverging to rear, posterior margin slightly concave; two 

 small bristles at posterior angle ; lateral margins with wide light- 

 brown band ; lighter and narrower bands diverging from pos- 

 terior of prothorax to posterior two-thirds of metathorax and 

 uniting with marginal bands; legs same color as head and 

 thorax, of medium size. 



Abdomen rounded oblong, first seven segments of nearly 

 equal length ; the transverse sutures straight ; first four segments 

 have a hair and a long bristle at angles, the next have two 

 bristles and the eighth two long bristles on posterior border with 

 a fringe of fine short hairs between; lateral line terminating 

 abruptly on median border, but continued to lateral borders by 

 a lighter shade, no lateral line on last segment. 



Description from specimen in Professor Osborn's collection, 

 taken from Merula migratoria propinqua at Ft. Collins, Col., bv 

 C. F. Baker. 



This species bears a close resemblance to P. mystax Nitzsch, 

 but is distinguished by larger palettes and the shallower and 

 more anteriorly placed notch of the prothoracic extensions. 



