NOTES ox AUSTRALIAN SIPHONAPTERA. 



By W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S., F.E.S., Entomologist. 



(Plate xxiii., and figs. 25-29). 



Family RHYNCHOPRIONID^. 



Genus Echidnophaga, Olliff. 



Only one species of this genus is known, namely E. ambulans, 

 Olliif. This extraoi'dinary flea was obtained from a Porcupine 

 Ant Eatei' — ( Tachyglossus aculeatus, Shaw = Echidna hystrix). 

 OUift' in his paper " Description of a New Aphanipterous Insect 

 from New South Wales," says that it " was found in large 

 numbers on a Porcupine Ant Eater (Echidna hystrix) which was 

 recently added to the collection of the Australian Museum."^ As 

 a matter of fact I only know of three sijecimens, and these are in 

 our cabinet. They are probably the only specimens in any col- 

 lection. Our specimens are mounted on one slide and labelled 

 " Echidnophaga amhulans, Olliff, on Echidna hystrix, N.S.W. 

 Type." 



Echidnophaga ambulans, Olliff. 



(Plate xxiii , and figs. 25, 26). 



This insect was described by the late Mr. A. S. Ollitt" in the 

 paper i-eferred to above, but it was not figured. An examination 

 and study of the type specimens reveal the fact that some 

 corrections and amphfications (aided by figures) to the original 

 description are necessary. The description below should therefore 

 be read in conjunction with 011ift"s. In this species the body is 

 globose, smooth, free from hairs and bristles excejDt in tlie region 

 of the genital aperture. 



Antennm capitate, three-jointed (not four-jointed as stated by 

 Olliff'). Eyes prominent. Caput convex above. On the dorsal 

 line, the pro-thorax is very short ; the meta- and mesa-thorax are 

 longer and of equal length to each other. 



1 Olliff— Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, (2), i., 1886, p. 172. 



