ir2 FLEAS, FLUKES AND CUCKOOS 



unspecialised genus; a third genus [Falcolipeurus) has only been taken 

 from the golden eagle. The Amblycera are represented by three genera, 

 and there is a fourth which has not been taken from British birds of 

 prey. Two of these genera illustrate the kind of anomalous distribution 

 which may bring the student of Mallophaga into conflict with the 

 ornithologist, since one of them is also found on the owls, the other, as 

 we have already seen, on the cuckoos. 



In modern classifications the Raptores, owls and cuckoos are not 

 considered to be related in any way. 



CiCONIIFORMES 



Genera of Mallophaga recorded in Britain : Colpocephalum, 

 Ciconiphilus, Ardeiphilus (Amblycera) ; Ardeicola, Neophilopterus 



(Ischnocera). 



The two members of this order resident in Britain, the heron and 

 the bittern, each have two species of lice. The plumage of the heron 

 seems to offer no attraction for the Mallophaga, for it is a bird which 

 seldom supports a large populadon and many individuals are altogether 

 louseless. A head louse is absent, although one is present on other 

 members of the order such as the spoonbill. One wing louse is recorded 

 —a species that is flabby and pale in colour, due perhaps to the soft 

 texture and light colour of the heron's plumage— and one member of 

 the Amblycera. On the other hand the white stork, a vagrant to 

 Britain, harbours species belonging to no less than four genera of feather 

 lice. 



Anseriformes 



Genera recorded in Britain : Ciconiphilus, Holomenoporiy Jrinoion 



(Amblycera); Anatoecus, Anaticola, Ornithobius (Ischnocera). 



The ducks and geese in Britain are usually parasitised by four 

 genera : one short and round in form and adapted to life on the head 

 and neck, one flattened and elongate and living on the back and wings, 

 while the other two genera belong to the Amblycera. One of these 

 {Trinoton, Plate XXII) seems to be the fastest runner of all lice. It 

 probably roams through the plumage and requires speed, not only to 

 escape the bill during preening, but to be able to get well into the 

 plumage in the case of a crash dive by the duck. The swans have, in 



