DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FLEA — SKUSE. 77 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FLEA (STEPHANOGIRCUS 



DASYURI) FROM NEW SOUTH WALES; with NOTES 



OF SOME OTHER INSECT PARASITES known in 



AUSTRALIA. 



By Frederick A. A. Skuse, Assistant in Entomology. 

 [Plate XVII.] 



The specimens from which the appended description has been 

 derived were obtained in numbers by my colleague, Mr. Edgar R. 

 Waite, and myself whilst searching for Ixodes on the body of the 

 Australian Tiger Cat, Das>/iirus maculatus, Kerr. 



It must not be entertained that the writer is impetuous to 

 describe isolated species, or is an advocate of the only too prevalent 

 practice. The reason for now so doing is certainly in part excusable, 

 owing to the distinctive character of the insect under notice, but 

 it is more especially done with the view of soliciting authentic 

 specimens of the cutaneous Insect, Arachnid and Arachnoid 

 parasites infesting our native Vertebrates, the majority of which 

 will doubtless prove to be plagued with their own peculiar forms. 

 Very few records appear to have been made of the external 

 parasites of Australian animals, and few of these with reference 

 to their respective hosts. With the view of collecting specimens, 

 it might be pointed out to those in the bush districts having the 

 opportunity, that they may be sought with success upon any 

 animal. Even the fleas themselves have other "fleas "to bite 

 them. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, all have 

 parasites infesting their skin — in most cases species peculiar to 

 themselves; in many, several distinct forms, each of which usually 

 occupies some particular portion of the surface of the body. 

 These pests are by no means confined to insect representatives ; 

 indeed the majority belong to the Arachnida. Various species of 

 flies deposit their eggs in the skins of both warm- and cold-blooded 

 Vertebrates, some permanently residing under the hair or feathers 

 in their perfect condition, and gorging themselves with the blood of 

 their victims. Many varieties of fleas ( Aphanipteraj have been 

 recorded, most of which, under ordinary circumstances, are peculiar 

 to some particular beast or bird. Bugs and lice, of which numerous 

 undescribed forms doubtless exist on our native animals, may be 

 readily collected. Of Arachnids, it is scarcely necessary to direct 

 attention to the ticks, a species of which, Ixodes hydrosauri, Denny, 

 occurs upon one of our large lizards. There are also many kinds 

 of minute eight-legged mites, which feed upon various animals, 



