368 Transactions. 



Degeeriella nebulosa Burmeister. 



Nirmus nebulosus Burmeister, Denny (1842, p. 132, pi. 11, fig. 13). 



A couple of individuals of this common parasite of the starling were 

 obtained from Sturnxs vulgaris Linn. 



Piaget (1880; p. 155) wrongly credits Denny with being the author of 

 this species. 



Degeeriella oraria Kellogg. 



Nirmus orarius Kellogg (1896, p. 104, pi. 5. rig. 5). 



Two females which we have referred to the above species were taken 

 upon Charadrius dominicus Mull. The species was described by Kellogg 

 from a single female taken from the same host in Kansas, U.S.A.. which 

 would seem to have been immature. 



Our specimen agrees in general with Kellogg's description, but has 

 strong square blotches on the ventral surface of the abdomen, and small 

 dark median blotches on segments 3-7 on the dorsal surface, neither of 

 which are mentioned in Kellogg's description. In addition, a pair of 

 median hairs is found on all the segments, and not only on segments 3-6, 

 as figured ; there are 5 hairs on either side of the metathorax, not 4 ; and 

 the dimensions are somewhat greater, the length being T95 mm. as against 

 1-84 mm., and the breadth 0-47 mm. against 0-4 mm. 



Philopterus leontodon Nitzsch (1818). 



Docophorus leontodon Nitzsch, in Giebel (1874. p. 90, pi. 11, figs. 4, 7). 



A solitary immature specimen of a Philopterus was taken from the intro- 

 duced European starling (Sturnus vulgaris Linn.), which has reached the 

 Kermadecs from New Zealand. 



We have referred it to Nitzsch's species as the general form of the head 

 is similar to that of P. leontodon. 



Philopterus fuscoclypeatus n. sp. 



A single mutilated individual, which is almost certainly a female ; of 

 this species was collected by one of us from a skin of Oestrelata neglecta Schl. 

 sent to Sydney. We have ventured to describe it, in 

 spite of its condition, as the structure of the fore part 

 of the head very clearly distinguishes it from any 

 Philopterus so far known. 



Head broader than long ; temples evenly rounded, 

 and fore part of form of an equilateral triangle, with 

 anterior angle truncated ; from base of trabeculae sides 

 of forehead are perfectly straight to anterior clypeal 

 angles ; clypeus entirely brown, darker at sides, where 

 the antennal bands widen out, ending in a more or less 

 sinuous border extending from the anterior clypeal 

 angle, parallel to the long axis, back to the suture ; 

 anterior clypeal angles projecting slightly beyond the 

 anterior margin of the clypeus, which is almost straight, 

 there being only a slight median depression ; clypeus 

 wholly chitinized, with no clear margins or spaces, P ^1Z ■ $?°" 

 with hind margin passing almost straight across the 

 head, curving slightly back on to the centre of the clear space in front 

 of mandibles ; laterally the hind margin curves round to join the antennal 



