1911] 113 



the species figured in tlie Stephensian and other contemporary collections, down 

 to that time he had not seen a native specimen which was not sixty years old 

 or more. Recently I determined a specimen, withoiit exact data, also " from 

 old collections," sent to me by Mr. Hugh Scott, of the Univei'sity Museum of 

 Zoology, Cambridge. It accordingly gave me pleasure to find amongst 

 a niimber of miscellaneous Neuroptera sent by Lt.-Col. C. G. Nurse, a fine 

 pair of this desirable species taken by him at West Stow ( $ , 7.vi.09) and 

 Ampton ( ^ , 5.vi.09), both in West Suffolk. Not the least satisfactory feature 

 is to be found in the fact that the two specimens are from quite distinct locali- 

 ties, about three miles apart. East Anglia is apparently favoured by R. cognata ; 

 but one cannot help thinking that it mvist be passed over sometimes in other 

 districts for the more freqvient R. xanthostigma. — Kenneth J. Morton, 13, 

 Blackford Eoad, Edinburgh: March I8th, 1911. 



A further note on Xenopsylla cheopis, Rothsch. — Since tlie piiblication of my 

 last note on the occurrence of the Indian Plague Flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, in 

 London {ante p. 68), I have received a communication from Dr. S. E. Boycott of 

 Guy's Hospital, which he has most kindly allowed me to pviblish. The results 

 of Dr. Boycott's investigations can be best gauged by the statements hereto 

 appended, which he has kindly sent me, showing the fleas that he has cav^ght 

 on rats {Mus norvegicus) in Gixy's Hospital. Dr. Boycott adds that the last five 

 rats he captured all belong in his opinion to one family which lives under his 

 laboratory, and it may be significant that there are steam pipes there which 

 keep it quite warm. In Guy's Hospital therefore, if nowhere else in the British 

 Islands, there is a flourishing colony of Xenopsylla cheopis. 



Febriiary 1st, 1911 1 big rat No fleas. 



Febrviary 3rd, 1911 6 yovxng rats ...18 Ceratophyllus fasciatus. 



t 1 Xenopsylla cheopis. 

 February 6th, 1911 1 young rat ... 9 Ceratophyllus fasciatus. 



t 1 Xenopsylla cheopis. 



February 14th, 1911 1 big rat 2 Ceratophyllus fasciatus. 



March 10th, 1911 1 big rat No fleas. 



March 17th, 1911 1 yoving rat ...SO Xenopsylla cheopis. 



March 21st, 1911 2 young rats ...75 Xenopsylla cheopis. 



March 22nd, 1911 1 young rat ... Z Ceratophyllus fasciatus. 



49 Xenopsylla cheopis. 



t These two examples have been recorded already (a>iie, p. 68), where the 

 date on which the second example was secured was given erroneously as the 

 7th of February. — N. C. Rothschild, Arundel House, Kensington Palace Gar- 

 dens, W. : March 24th, 1911 



