19120 61 



two blackish rings on the basal joint, and sometimes with the base of the 

 second joint black. Femora with a few blackish-brown spots. Tibise with black 

 spines springing- from black spots, and with the extreme base black. 

 Length 2| mm. 



In its uniform coloration, and the markings on the antennae and 

 tibise, this little insect resembles a Plagiognathus, but from that genus 

 it differs in the absence of strong black hairs on the hemelytra, and in 

 the greater length of the terminal joint of the posterior tarsi, which is 

 much longer than the second ; the eyes also are granulate instead of 

 smooth. From our other British Psalli it may be easily distinguished by 

 its uniform colour and its small size, and by being the only species which 

 has the base of the tibise black. On the Continent it is associated with 

 coniferous trees, and has been taken in France, Grermany, Switzerland, 

 the Tyrol, and Grreece. Mr. Edwards took his examples by sweeping, 

 and he thus writes of them : — " If the species really lives exclusively on 

 conifers, it must have been introduced to the Colesborne station with 

 young trees, and equally certainly, must have lived in this country for 

 at least ten years. I could not decide whether my specimens came from 

 young conifers, young hard- woods, or the rough herbage round." 



I have to thank Mr. Edwards for very kindly presenting me with 

 most of his specimens. 



56, Cecile Park, Croiich End, N. : 

 February 13th, 1912. 



TWO ECTOPARASITES (MALLOPHAGA) FEOM THE SNIPE 



(GALLINAGO CMLESTI8, Frenzel) ; 



FROM NORTHMAVINE, SHETLAND. 



BY JAMES WATERSTON, B.D., B.Sc. 



During the first week of September, 1911, there were secured from 

 snipe, shot in Northmavine by my friend, Mr. R. H. MacNair, I.C.S., 

 a number of Mallophaga, amongst which two species of some interest 

 occurred. One of these, Nirmus truncattis,^ N., is represented by a good 

 series ; the other, Docophoms fiirmoides,^ P. var., by three examples 

 only. 



Nirmus truncatiis, N. (= scolopacis, D.), is easily recognised. 

 The breadth of the clypeus, the normally straight or slightly concave 

 anterior edge, the dark signature, the length of the trabeculse, the 

 peculiar contraction of the metathorax laterally towards the prothorax, 



