( 175 ) 



a side-view (on slide). In this groove, which is present in all the species we 

 have from America, there is an acute, somewhat heart-shaped, tubercle, which lies, 

 in most species, usually concealed in the groove, but often projects a little when the 

 specimen is comjiressed. There is one (not two) long bristle beneath the eye near 

 the ventral edge of the head. 



The fifth segment of the foretarsns is oblong, being hardly half as long again 

 as it is broad. The basal jjrojectiou of the claw of this segment is very largo, being 

 at least half tlie length of the claw. There are ten bristles on the outer surface of 

 the hindtiliia. 



We do not know the male. 



Pulex lutzi Baker, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxvii. pp. 378 and 380 (19U4), from 

 iSao Panlo, off Grisoii. vittata, apjiears to be a closely allied species. The second 

 anil third abdominal tergites, however, are described as bearing no minute apical 

 teeth, and the anterior row of bristles on the abdominal tergites 3 to 7 is described 

 as being represented by only one or two bristles on each side. 



Genus CTENOCEPHALUS. 



Clciiucrpluihis Kolenati, Fauiut Alirat. p. CG (1859). 



This genus comprises only the dog and cat fleas. After having pointed out the 

 differences between these two insects [see Ent. Rec. xiii. p. 126 (IDOl) ; Xov. Zool. 

 xi. p. 192 (190.5)] we are rather surjirised to see in Baker's recent paper a note to 

 the effect that he is convinced that canis and fclis are the same insect. As the 

 differences in the head of these two fleas are so very conspicuous that they can be 

 distinguished at a glance from each other, we can explain Baker's contrary opinion 

 only by assuming that he has seen but one of the two fleas — probably C.feli.i. 



Weyenbergh had specimens of both canis and felis. We have received two 

 specimens labelled as canis. They belong to the short-headed species — i.e. they are 

 true canis. We have not seen specimens named felis by him in Periudico Zool. iii. 

 p. 276. No less thaafour of his new species, however, belong io felis, according 

 to the specimens received ; the synonymy being as follows : 



4. Ctenocephalus felis. 



Piilcx fclis Bouch^, Nova Arid Ac. Leap. Carol. Gcs. iVal. xvii. 1. p. b05 (183.5). 

 I'ulcj: ijuniccpa Weyenbergh, Bui. Ac. Nac. Sc. Ai-f/eiit. iii. p. 202. (187'J) (nom. nud.). 

 Ceratopsijlliis riifulus id., Pcr'Mko Zool. iii. p. 265 (1881) (on C'enius rufus\ " P. parviccps this 



species "). 

 Pulex iiasiKW id., I.e. p. 272 (1881) (on Nama sorkdis). 

 Pulex ohscurus id., l.c., p. 273 (1881) (ou Canis asarac and ijnuilix). 

 Pulex concoloris id., t.c., p. 274 (1881) (on Fclis cnnrolor). 



As the insect varies a good deal in size and depth of colour, Weyenbergh was 

 led astray by such individual distinctions. Weyenbergh laid also too much stress 

 ou the general outline of the body, describing tlie fleas much in the same way as 

 beetles, for instance, are described. The descriptions accompanying the above- 

 quoted names contain many inaccuracies, though Weyenbergh apimrently examined 

 the specimens microscopically. Wliat he calls the comb of the metanotum is of 

 course that of the pronotum. 



^\'e have received ii female of rnfnlus, two females of nasuae, a pair of obsciirus, 



