Ig4 [August, 



blue-black British DoJerus, spp., that are known to have been taken 

 ver^ early in the season {e.g., in March or even February). Some of the 

 least known species occur then only on the Continent and probably 

 here also, in vrhich ease some of our old records of their occurrence 

 must certainly rest on mistaken identifications. 



ON CTENOPSYLLUS SPECTABILIS AND SOME CLOSELY 



ALLIED SPECIES. 



BY THE HON. N. CHXRLES ROTHSCHILD, M.A., P.L.S. 



Plate II. 



The species we are dealing with in the present paper are all 

 characterized by bearing two spines at the posterior angle of the gena, 

 and having two or three of the bristles of the anterior row of the frons 

 so enlarged as to resemble spines. These spine-like bristles, which 

 are also present in Ctenopsyllus musculi, are drawn out into a long thin 

 point, which is usually broken, the bristles then appearing short and 

 blunt. 



1. — Ctenopsyllus spectabilis, Eothsch. (PI. IT, fig. 2.) 



TyphlopsyUa spectnhilis, Rothschild, Ent. Rec. and Journ. Variat., 

 X, p, 250, fig. (IS98) (North Berwick). 



We figure the genitalia of the ^ to allow comparison with the 

 organs of the two new species described below. The movable process 

 F is very strongly widened apically. The ninth sternite (ix. st.) 

 bears three long thin bristles at the ventral edge, besides many small 

 ones. The eighth sternite (viii. st.) has two long and one short bristle 

 at the apex, and two or three bristles proximally to the ventral sinus. 



We have specimens of this species from various places in England 

 and Scotland, taken off Evotomys ylareolus, Microtus agrestis exsul, 

 Mils sylvaticus, Mnsteln erminea and Mustela vulgaris. The bank vole 

 (-E". glareolus) appears to be the true host, 



2. — Ctenopsyllus sylvatica, Mein. 



TyphlopsyUa syhmiica, Meinert, Ent. Meddel., vol. v, p. 192, 

 (1896) (Denmark). 



Only one ? is known. We have to thank Dr. Meinert for 

 lending us the type-specimen for comparison with our $ ? of specta- 

 hilis. There do not appear to be any differences between the $ 



