NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN SIPHONAPTERA — RAINBOW. 



10^ 



Abdomfii. — The first abdominal tergite bears three rows of 

 bristles and a few short hairs in front : the bristles constituting 

 the posterior row are very long, those of the median row are 

 individually about one-half the length of their posterior neigh- 

 bours, and double the length of those of the anterior row. 

 Tergites 2 to 4 have each one row of extx-emely long bristles, and 

 another in which each individual is about one-half the length of 

 the latter; each of these tei-gites has, in addition, a few fine 

 hairs. Tergite 5 has only one row of bristles (each individual of 

 which is very long) and a few short hairs, whilst tergite 6 has 

 three slightly recurved rows, the first of which consists of four very 

 short bristles, the second, ten, about twice the length of the latter, 

 and the posterior row, twelve exceedingly long bristles. Tergite 7 

 has three rows of four, six, and eight respectively, and a few fine 

 haiis ; there are also two pairs of long 

 and heavy bristles seated at the apex, 

 and of these each outer one is longer 

 than its inner neighbour. The pos- 

 terior tergite has four short heavy 

 bristles, and a number of long and 

 short fine hairs. On sternite 1, there 

 is one long bristle on each side, and 

 no lateral ones, whilst in respect of 

 the others there is on each a ventral 

 patch of bristles, of which the pos- 

 terior ones are much the longest and 

 strongest. Pygidium much deeper 

 than wide, and clothed with long 

 coarse bristles and fine hairs (fig. 28). 



Legs. — Long. Fore coxa furnished 

 with long strong bristles and short, 

 fine hairs. Median coxa smooth on 

 the upper angle and outer side ; 

 lower angle clothed in its entire length 



Fig. 28. 

 Ceratophyllus rothschildi. 



with short hairs 

 or bristles which are exceedingly fine at the base, but become 

 gradually stronger towards the apex, which is completely 

 encircled by them. The hind coxa is also smooth on the upper 

 angle ; the outer side is smooth at the base, and for about one- 

 half its length, from whence it is moderately hairy, and provided 

 with bristles which become gradually stronger towards the apex ; 

 lower angle clothed with short fine hairs at the base, but becoming 

 gradually stronger towards the apex which is encircled with fine 

 hairs and coarse bristles. The fore femur has a number of shorter 

 and longer fine hairs scattered over its outer surface, and one \ev\ 

 long bristle on its inner angle near the apex. The median femui- 



