284 THE entomologist's record. 



daily at dawn, and had to be swept away every morning from the 

 outside of the houses, where they were piled up to a height of several 

 feet. Westwood {Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., ser. 1, v., p. 24) has recorded 

 swarms of Harpalus as occurring near Dover, on August 12th, 1839. 



A New British Flea {with plate). 



By the Hon. N. C. EOTHSCHILD, B.A., F.L.S. 



Ceeatophyllus newsteadi, sp. nov. — In " Novitates Zoologicae," 

 1900, pp. 539-543, I gave some notes on four species of Ceratophyllus 

 parasitic on birds. Since the appearance of the above article I have 

 received from Mr. Robert Newstead nine specimens of an entirely new 

 species of the genus Ceratophyllus. Five of these were taken from the 

 nest of a hawfinch [Coccothraustes vulgaris), found near Chester, while 

 the others were secured near Nantyffrith, Flintshire, in the nest of 

 the common dipper [Cinclus acpiaticus). The present species is similar 

 in size to C. (jallinae, Schrank, measuring slightly over 3mm. in length, 

 and likewise resembles that species in colour. 



The number of spines in the pronotal comb appears to vary, the 

 largest number present in any of my examples being thirty-six. The palpi 

 are almost the same length as the rostrum in both sexes. The posterior 

 edges of the seventh tergite in both sexes, bear on each side one very long 

 and two very short bristles. The ratio between the lengths of these 

 bristles is of the same in both sexes, a character not exhibited by the 

 other three species of this genus, in which the outer hairs situated in 

 this position are greatly reduced in length. The posterior segments 

 of the abdomen of both sexes are figured on the plate drawn " from 

 the slide " by my friend Dr. K. Jordan. The segments in question 

 differ markedly from those of any other member of the genus 

 Ceratophyllus. In the male the process " p " of the ninth sternite is 

 somewhat rounded resembling the same part of C. (jalliyiae. The 

 movable finger "f " is boot-shaped, the sole being turned distad ; it bears 

 three very strongly chitinised spines as shown in the figure, the 

 lowest one being peculiarly curved. The manubrium, " M," is short, 

 obtuse, and curved dorsad, differing from the manubria of the other 

 members of the genus Ceratophyllus, parasitic on birds. The posterior 

 abdominal segments of the female are drawn on the plate in optical 

 section. The most curious feature of these segments is the shape 

 of the seventh sternite, " vii. v.", which is deeply sinuate at its 

 posterior edge. 



Explanation of Plate. 



1. Ceratophyllus neiosteadi i , ninth segment. 



2. Ceratophyllus newsteadi ? , posterior abdominal segments. 



Condition of Lachneis lanestris during the pupal state. 



By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 

 My note in the Record for July last has brought me a consignment of 

 pupae of the season 1899 for examination, from Mr. A. Russell, and the 

 result is so different from my anticipation that I report it at once, and 

 hope that several observers will follow the matter up. The cocoons 

 received (besides conjoint ones with deceased inmates) were examined 

 August 14th, 1901. They were 24 in number, of these, two were 



