N0.1S61. IlKYJSION OF AMERICAN SIPHOXArTERA— BAKER. 379 



PULEX IRRITANS Linneeus. 

 riate XI, ri<rs. :!-(i. 



This, the oavliost floscribod inoinl)or of tho order, is tho host known 

 speoios of the worUl next to the cat and do<^ ilea, and aj)])ears to 1)C 

 nearly cosmopolitan in the M'arnier temperate and in the tropical 

 regions. It is the specific ilea of human being's, hut it will readily 

 attack a variety of othei' animals which may happen in its way, as a 

 transient parasite. Jt is conunon in dwellinj^" houses within its rant^e, 

 and is also common in other places frequented by human ]»eint>s. like 

 parks, picnic ^-rounds, and sea beaches. The collection contains speci- 

 mens from California, (^tieen Charlotte Islands, Texas, and the South- 

 eastern States. It has been taken fi-om T>/<lrljiJilx rlr(j!)i!.(iii<i (this 

 form the variety xiimihoix), and Mr. J. O. Snych'i' contrilmtes s])cci- 

 mens taken on a fox at San Diego, California. Both of these latter 

 occurrences are to l)e considered as accidental. 



PULEX DUGESII Baker. 



First descri])ed as a variety of irritcDts^ this form is now given the 

 rank of a species. The examination of a large series shows the char- 

 acters to be uniform and thoroughly distinctive. Dr. Duges kindly 

 sent a second lot from Guanajuato, Mexico, also taken from ('/trjlux 

 iiiaeroKrnx. This is its only known locality and host. The propor- 

 tional lengths of hind tarsal joints are about ^I-IS-S-;")-!;"), or nearly 

 the same as in /rr/tan.s. 



PULEX BRASILIENSIS. new species. 



Dr. Lutz sends a very distinct form occurring on ^^Ks ratfiin and 

 Mu^ na)'ve<jteu.'< at Sao Paulo, Urazil. 



The abdominal segments each bear but one transverse row of bris- 

 tles; those on tergites, w\t\\ about fourteen bristles each: those on 

 sternites, with abtjut eight each. On the inner side of hind coxa there 

 are only six teeth in a short transverse row. The iiind femora are 

 provided laterally with a longitudinal row of al)out (>ig"ht well- 

 developed bristles. The proportional lengths of hind tarsal joints are 

 about 28-lS-l>-5-ll. Antepygidial spines, one on each side; protho- 

 rax, with about eight bristles neai- posterior border: mesothorax. with 

 a))out twelve, and metathorax, with about ft)urteen. 



Mandibles an<l labial palpi slender and nearly reaching end of ante- 

 rior coxa". Labial palpi apparently composed of I j(>int>. Uelow 

 the eye the gena is somewhat laminately extended on er the antennal 

 groove. Gena Avith two stout spines, one in front of upper extremity 

 of eye, the other on lower edge over l)ase of maxilla. Vertex with a 

 row of live or six siuall bristles on either side along postiM'ior margin. 

 a stout one at lateral angle, a stout one at midway of antiMinal gioo\ c, 

 and a small one above this last. 



