V.-J2.] 243 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE-HISTOKY OF A LIOTHEID (MALLOPHAGA) 

 PARASITE OF THE CURLEW (NUMENIUS ARQUATA Linn.). 



BY JAMES WATEllSTO:^, B.D., D.SC. 



On 10.X.1910 I shot a common Curlew at CoUafirth, Northmavine, 

 Shetland, and examined it for Mallophaga. It was then my custom in 

 dealing with host species to search the plumage of any specimens 

 passing through m^^ hands feather by feather, and to this was due the 

 discovery of a Mallophagan habitat and mode of life which at the time 

 were new to me, and which now, with a wider knowledge of the litera- 

 ture of the group, I find to be apparently almost unnoticed. I had 

 pulled out an old ])rimary when somethmg unusual in the appearance of 

 the barrel or calamus caught my eye. Normally the cjuill in this region 

 shows, when seen by transmitted light, a few more or less oblicpie septa, 

 the divisions, /. e., between the internal horny caps which together form 

 a structure (called by German -writers "die seele " — the soul of the 

 feather), for which there exists no exact term in English. 



In the present case, however, the lumen was continuous from the 

 superior down to the inferior umbilicus where, on looking carefully, I 

 noticed one or two small dark masses. As I Avatched, one of these 

 masses detached itself from the others, ard travelled shadow-like up the 

 barrel. That it was an animal of some sort seemed certain, but how it 

 had got inside the feather v/as puzzling, since no aperture was at first dis- 

 cernible. Later, however, a very small hole was detected — too small, as 

 events proved, for the exit of the creature whose movement I had just 

 watched. On splitting the feather open several examples of a rather 

 large Colpocej)halum, at various stages of development, were disclosed. 

 Two more feathers in a similar condition were found in the same wing of 

 this bird. 



Since discovering this peculiar habit I have never missed an 

 opportunity of examining the plumage of Curlews for the parasite. The 

 percentage of infested birds has not been high, but 1 have no note of 

 the exact figure. With one exception, when two $ $ were taken at 

 large, between the webs of two adjacent flight-feathers, the Colpoce- 

 pkalum has occurred in its original habitat within the quill, from halt" a 

 dozen up to a hundred specimens being present. In the latter case, 

 though there was a small clear s^mce distally, the parasites were tightly 

 packed proximally, and tumbled out in a struggling mass when part of 

 the shaft was excised. Either primary or secondary feathers may be 

 attacked. I have found up to five feathers in one bird tenanted. The 

 effect of this occupation may be noted. 



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