142 



MODERN SYSTEM. 



placed in an order which he named Paraaita. This name Dr. Leach 

 has changed for the sake of harmony, and also to render the name 

 more easy of retention in the memory, the characters being drawn 

 from the same parts. 



Their motion is slow, and their nourishment is derived from the 

 blood of mammalia, birds and insects. 



" It is almo>t an established fact, that every sjiecies of bird (and 

 probably mammiferons animal) has its own jjeculiar parasite; and 

 there is no instance of the same species of louse having been ob- 

 served on two distinct species of birds, although some birds (as the 

 raven oyster-catcher, &c.) are infested with several species of para- 

 sites." The importance of clearly ascertaining the truth is such" to 

 the ornithologist, that J)r. Leach has employed a considerable por- 

 tion of time for the purpose of investigating and of describing the 

 species with accuracy, little more than a bare catalogue of names 

 and habitats having been given in the works of Linne, I'abriciiis, 

 and Gmelin. The result of his examinations he docs not consider 

 himself as able to communicate at present; but it is Ids intention, 

 when the subject has arrived at maturity, to give a paper on this Or- 

 der to the Linnean Society of London. 



Fam. T. Pedicclid;e. Leach. 

 MoiilJi consisting of a tubulose, very short haustellum. 



Geims G. PIITIIIRUS. Leach. Pediculus. Linn., Fxcdl, Lair., 



Fahr. 

 Anterior pair of feet sim\Ac ; two hinder pair didactvle: ^/wa.r extremely 



short, scarcely visible. 

 8p. 1. P/ilh. ingnina/is. Body whitish. 

 Pediculus inguinalis. liccli. Pediculus pubis, linn.. Fair., La(r. Le 



Jlorpion. Gcof. Phthirus inguinalis. Leach. 

 Inhabits the eyebrows, &;c. of inen and women, being commonly 

 known under the titles Crabs, Crab-lice, &c. 



Genus 7. PEDICULUS. Linn., Fahr., De Geer, Gcof., Redi, 

 Hermann, Lam., I^ach. 

 Fed all armed with a finger and thumb : ihorac composed of three di- 

 stinct equal segments. 

 Sp. 1. Fed. hianamts. Body oval, lobate, vrhite and nearly immaculate. 

 Pediculus humanus. Fabr., Linn., Latr., Leach. 



Inhabits the bodies and garments of men, and is known by the name 

 of the body-louse. On the continent of Europe, especial! v in Spain 

 and Portugal, it is very abundant. In Britain it is of rare occur- 

 rence, and may have been introduced from the neighbouring coim- 

 tries. 



