46 Kansas Academy of science. 



stone strata. The rocks on being broken open are found to contain crystals of a 

 white and a pinkish mineral, and numerous patches of sphalerite with small particles 

 of pyrite. The associated rock is a gray, siliceous limestone, readily attacked by 

 dilute acids. The minerals occur in radiated masses of thin bladed crystals and in 

 veins of a centimeter or less in thickness, which divide the rock into irregular poly- 

 hedrons. The sphalerite is dark brown with yellow streaks, and has the ordinary 

 resinous luster. 



There seem to be two distinct minerals in the veins. One of them occurs in 

 opaque pink crystals, and often in masses of irregular shape. These crystals de- 

 crepitate readily, and give both the barium and strontium flames. The streak is 

 white, and there is slight effervescence with acid. An approximate analysis gives 

 barium sulphate, 80 per cent.; strontium sulphate, 14 per cent.; with small quantities 

 of silica and iron and calcium carbonate. This corresponds quite closely in compo- 

 sition to the so-called celesto-barite of von Waltershausen. 



The second mineral when carefully picked appeared quite different. It occurs in 

 transparent colorless crystals, varying in shape from fiat rhombic to needle-shaped 

 prismatic. In some places they are colored by red oxide of iron, which was removed 

 as completely as possible. It decrepitates and gives a distinct strontium and a faint 

 barium flame. Approximate analysis gives strontium sulphate, 96 per cent.; barium 

 sulphate, 1 per cent.; with small quantities of silica and calcium carbonate, and shows 

 it to be celestite. 



SOME NOTES ON THE MALLOPHAGA. 



BY VERNON L. KELLOGG, LAWRENCE, KANSAS. 



The Mallophaga (bird-lice) have been little studied. Nitzsch, and more recently 

 Grosse, both of Germany, have devoted attention to the classification and to the 

 anatomy of these insects. In the United States practically no work has been done 

 in reference to them. As to anatomy, Grosse's '■'^Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Mallo- 

 phagen^^ may be considered the best authority, and as to classification, the scheme 

 of Nitzsch is accepted. The Mallophaga have no well-defined position in the insect 

 world. Packard in his latest publications arranges them with the white ants and 

 stone-flies, making the order Platyptera. 



The writer has noted and described, with full microscopic measurements, twenty- 

 four species representing ten genera taken from Kansas birds. As no list of Amer- 

 ican species has been made, the specimens are arranged by genera and given species 

 numbers. The writer discovers among these specimens types of two new genera 

 which he introduces into Nitzsch's classification, and has fully described. Also are 

 noted certain points which are essential to the classification of the Mallophaga and 

 which are, with some hesitation, introduced into Nitzsch's scheme. Well-defined 

 relations between certain families and genera of Mallophaga and certain orders and 

 families of Aves are apparent, the distribution of the insects being evidently affected 

 by the characteristic habits of the hosts. A series of forty specimens of Mallophaga, 

 mounted on glass slides serves to exhibit external differences among the species so 

 far observed. Observations on the anatomy, gross and minute, have been made to 

 a limited extent, Dr. Grosse's monograph being very complete. Notes on the res- 

 piratory system of Tetropthalmus, as shown by accompanying cut of a clarified 

 specimen have been made. Notes on alimentary canal content, upholding the dec- 

 larations of Grosse that the Mallophaga eat feathers alone, and blood only indirectly, 

 (. e., when on the feathers by reason of a wound or mange, have been made. In ob- 

 servation of the digestive system in Docophorus, it is noted that the anus is a long 



