376 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxvii. 



Family VERMIPSYLLID^ Wagner. 



1889. Vermipsyllidse Wagner, Horse Soc. Ent. Ross., XXIII, No. 1-2, p. 205. 

 1895. Vermipsi/llidse Bakeu, Canad. Ent., XXVII, p. 22. 



This family is characterized especially by the extreme development 

 of labial palpi. 



Genus VERMIPSYLLA Schimkewitsch. 



1885. YermlpsyUd Schimkewitsch, Zool. Anz., No. 87. 



1889. Vermipsylla Wagner, Horte Soc. Ent. Ross., XXIII, No^<. 1-2, p. 205. 



1895. Vermipsylla Baker, Canad. Ent., XXVII, p. 22. 



Contains but one species {V. alacvrt Schimkewitsch). Found only 

 on Ungulates in Turkestan. 



Family MEGAPSYLLID^ Baker. 



1898. MegapsyllklH' Baker, Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc, IV, p. 53. 



Recognizing the remarkable distinctness of the Pulex g'rosslventris 

 of Weyenberg from an^^ Pulicida^, it was referred to in the Prelimi- 

 nary Studies as a good species of Sarcop,s7/Ua. Later, a study of 

 specimens kindly sent by Dr. Berg, of Buenos Ayres, showed this to 

 be a very erroneous reference, the species really being a much closer 

 relative of Pulex. As it represented a group equivalent to Vermi- 

 psyllida?, or Sarcopsyllidse, it was made the type of a new family. 

 The fifth tarsal joint is very closely inserted into the fourth, and 

 beneath the apex of that joint, this giving the subconnate appearance 

 as described. The enormous claws and spines of fore tibia? are dis- 

 tinctive. In the somewhat reduced maxilhe it resembles the Sarcopsjd- 

 lidffi, but the female abdomen does not become swollen to the extent 

 found in the Sarcopsyllidaj or even in the Vermipsyllida?. 



Genus MEGAPSYLLA Baker. 



1898. Meyapmlla Baker, Jouni N. Y. Ent. Soc, IV, p. 53. 



Head evenly rounded above in female; uneven and unituberculate 

 in front in the male. Prothorax in the female with five or seven 

 remote, short, stout, dark-brown teeth; in the male unarmed. Fore 

 tibiie very small and short, but swollen. Maxillae small, extending 

 only to one-half of second joint of maxillary palpi. Labial palpi 

 5-jointeci. 



MEGAPSYLLA GROSSIVENTRIS (Weyenberg) Baker. 



Lives on Zaedyus iiiinutus in Argentina. One of the largest (male, 

 2.5-3.25 mm.; gravid female, 6-6.5 mm.) and most distinctly marked 

 of the known fleas. 



