62 [March, 



the parallel- sided first abdominal segment, the narrow median ' furrow ' 

 reaching to the middle of the sixth segment, are together characteristic 

 features.3 



Denny's specimens were " communicated by Mr. Wallace from 

 Douglas, Isle of Man, who found it upon the Common Snipe (ScoIojmx 

 gallinago) .^ Piaget obtained examples from the same host, and also from 

 Phalaropus hyperhorciis, ' en grande nombre. ' " In the New World, the 

 representative form is the var. marginocepliahis,^ Carriker, which 

 has been taken from Gallbmgo clelicata and Lams franklini (straggler). 



Constant generic criteria are often difiicult to find amongst 

 Mallophaga. Thus, while the specific identity of an example may not 

 be in doubt, its systematic position may be uncertain. Docophorus 

 nirmoides, P., falls in the debatable ground between Docophortis and 

 Nirmus. Piaget found his types " sur un Numenius*arqnata (Jardin 

 Zool. de Rotterdam)." There is, in my collection, a single Nirmoid 

 Docophorus from this host (Shetland), but it does not appear to be 

 Piaget's nirmoides, though the pi^esent three specimens are referable to 

 that species. They differ hardly at all from the original description as 

 regards markings and chsetotaxy, but considerably in measurements. 

 As Piaget has demonstrated the taxonomic value of such differences, 

 it has seemed advisable to make a new variety. " Les Pediculines " is 

 a somewhat inaccessible work, and the following description may be 

 given. 



Docophorus nirmoides var. major. 



Head elongate, produced with almost parallel sides in front of the trabeculse, 

 which are moderate, movable, and somewhat acute. First antennal joint 

 set rather deeply in head, clypeus broadly truncate ; forehead, with seven hairs 

 on each side, two anteriorly, one at edge, and another a short distance from edge, 

 two close set at the suture, and two behind suture, and one, very tiny, just before 

 the trabecula. In the S there is a short fine hair rising with the anterior pair, 

 but from the underside of the clypeus. This may be the eighth of which Piaget 

 speaks. Signature broad, with straight edge, and much produced posteriorly, 

 ending before the mandibles, not reaching them as in the type. One moderate 

 hair at tlie eye, and two longer at the rounded temples; occiput slightly 

 re-entrant. Occipital bands broad, dividing the posterior region of the head into 

 three equal areas. Between their bases the marginal band of the occiput is 

 broadly defined. 



Prothorax, dorsal spot entire, margins thickened and darker, one postero- 

 lateral hair. 



MetatJwrax pointed over the abdomen, dorsal mark divided, posterior row of 

 long hairs on clear spots ("pustules incolorees" of Piaget). 



Abdomen. First segment with parallel sides ; owing to the shape of this 



