NEW MALLOPHAGA. |7 



tion, it would be wanting. A few instances are recorded 



of the presence of blood in the crop, but it has been sug- 

 gested, with much show oi probability, that the blood was 

 such as might not infrequently, because of wounds, be 

 found by the parasite on the feathers, perhaps dried ami 

 hard. There is one instance, however, known to me 

 among tin- habits of the parasites which cannot be so 

 readily explained. Menopon titan var. linearis, of the 

 California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus californicus) is 

 found commonly clinging to the inner surface of the 

 gular pouch. The clinging is accomplished by the use 

 of the mandibles, each parasite of the half dozen individ- 

 uals which may be grouped together having its mandibles 

 inserted in the skin of the pouch. The mandibles are 

 not thrust in suddenly on touching the insect with the 

 collecting forceps, but the insects are always, as far as 

 observed, firmly lodged. Indeed some effective clinging 

 would be necessary always to prevent the carrying away 

 of the parasites by the water taken into the pouch of the 

 pelican in feeding. In several instances a small region 

 surrounding the parasites was raw and bloody. What is 

 it that serves these parasites for food? Perhaps, of course, 

 simply the epidermal scales of the inner wall of the pouch. 

 The abundance of certain species of Mallophaga, like 

 Menopon pallidum, on domestic poultry causes the hosts 

 much inconvenience and sometimes actual injury. The 

 injury is done by the irritation of the skin of the host by 

 the sharp-clawed feet of the hordes of parasites, rather 

 than by any direct hurt through the feeding. After the 

 death of the host, the parasites either attempt to leave the 

 body, usually migrating slowly toward the head, or sim- 

 ply die on the body. The death of the parasites remain- 

 ing on the body usually ensues in two or three days. I 

 have observed the death of some in four or five hours, 



