( 541 ) 



On each side of the first four tarsi of the hindlegs in the male there are 

 respectively five, five, three, and one strongly chitinised hairs, in the female there 

 are six, four, three, and one. 



Length : 306 to 340 mm. 



As we have already pointed out, the chief distinctive specific characters 

 of the bird fleas are to be found in the posterior abdominal segments of both 

 sexes. 



In the male the eighth abdominal tergite (fig. 6) bears on its outer surface a few 

 long hairs, the position of which is shown in the figure. On the inner surface the 

 apical area (between the stigma [si in figure] and the apical margin) is covered with 

 numerous very short stiff hairs. That portion of the figure between the punctured 

 line and the apical margin represents this area. The Tnale copulatory organs are 

 shown in fig. 1 (the penis being omitted). The eighth ventral segment is much 

 modified, it consists of one rod-like piece dilated at the base and bearing here on each 

 side a membrane covered with minute hairs, the outline of which I have not yet 

 succeeded in determining. This membrane attaches the eighth stemite to the eighth 

 targite. The eighth sternite is produced at its apical end on each side into a thin, 

 almost membraneous, process pointing dorsad. The extremity of the segment bears 

 some long hairs, generally six in number, seldom five. 



The ninth tergite has the process (p in the figure) short, bearing two short 

 hairs. The two long hairs placed ventrally to this process are also present in other 

 bird fleas. 



The " movable finger " (f. in figure) is widest at the end which is rounded, the 

 arrangement of the few hairs it bears can be best seen in the figure. The ninth sternite 

 is modified in the bird fleas in a peculiar manner. The two halves of the segment are 

 fused ventrally and proximally, the distal free portions being apparently movable, and 

 it is further covered with fine hairs. The ninth sternite is shown in fig. 2 as it 

 appears when flattened out, the proximal end as here drawn is produced like a long 

 wire-like spiral. The tenth segment consists of a mesially divided tergite and 

 sternite, between which the rectum is generally visible. In a previous article of mine, 

 Nov. ZooL. vol. v., p. 538 (1898), I suggested that the movable finger, fig. 1 f. 

 might be the tenth sternite ; this is an error, the movable finger being a part of 

 the ninth tergite. 



In the female the eighth tergite (fig. 10) bears several irregular rows of short 

 hairs dorsally above and near the stigma. The dilated portion of the tergite is 

 sinuate distally ; it bears two rows of three hairs, both of which are below the stigma, 

 and a few hairs near the lower distal angle ; of these latter hairs two or three are short 

 and stout, having the appearance of spines. 



The larger proximal portion of the brown abdominal gland, so conspicuous in the 

 female of most fleas, is in the present species about twice as long as it is wide 

 ■(fig. 19). 



The present species is abundant on the Common Domestic Fowl all over Europe, 

 but I do not know if it is found on the wild bird in India {Gallus galliLs). I have 

 also found it abundant in the nests of starlings (Stiirmis vulgaris) and blackbirds 

 (Turdios merula). In addition to these examples I have odd specimens undoubtedly 

 belonging to this species from the Kobin (Erithacus rubecida), the Long-tailed Tit 

 (Acredula rosea),'the Stock-dove (Columha oeneas), the Long-tailed Field-mouse 

 {Mu8 silvaticus), and the Noctule Bat (Scotophilus noctida), these last taken near 

 Brighton. 



