October, 1902.] 225 



NEW BRITISH FLEAS (Plate IV). 

 BY THE HON. N. CHARLES ROTHSCHILD, B.A., E.L.S. 



Ceratophyllus Garei, sp. nov., PI. iv, figs. 1—3. 



Closely allied to C. galtince, Schrank, from which species it can be easily dis- 

 tinguished by the form of the eighth sternite in the J (fig. 2), and by that of the 

 seventh sternite in the V (fig. 3). The prothoracic comb consists of twenty-sis teeth. 



Length, 2"5 mm. 



TeD specimens of this species were secured from, the nest of a 

 waterhen (Gall inula chloropus) in July last near Tring. The late 

 Mr. E. C. Rye* mentions a Ilea as occurring on the waterhen, but we 

 have failed to find any description of it. The present species is 

 named in honour of Mr. George Gare, of Wembdon, Bridgwater, 

 who has done much to further the knowledge of the fleas parasitic 

 on birds. 



Ceratophyllus Walkeri, sp. nov., PI. iv, figs. 4, 5, 7. 



Closely allied to G. lagomys, Wagner, a non- British species, under 

 which name it was recorded on our identification in Verrall's list of 

 British Diptera (last edition). Since the publication of that work, 

 however, we have received typical examples of C. lagomys from Dr. 

 Wagner, and are now able to decide that the present species is 

 abundantly distinct. The type specimen of the present species was 

 forwarded to us by Mr. J. J. Walker, who found it in a deserted 

 mouse nest in March, 1898, at Chattenden in Kent. We have, how- 

 ever, received subsequently other specimens from Mustela erminea 

 and M. vulgaris (Tring), iSorex vulgaris (Bevandean, Sussex), Microtus 

 glareolus (Tring and Ouudle), Microtus amphibius (Tring), and 

 "Hedge clippings" (Chesham). 



C. Walkeri is a very dark species, measuring 3 mm. in length. The prothoracic 

 comb consists of eighteen teeth. The ninth tergite of the $ is drawn in fig. 4. 

 The eighth tergite of the $ is shown in fig. 5, and is readily distinguished from that 

 of C. lagomys, Wagner, fig. 6 inserted for comparison. The seventh sternite of the 

 ¥ (fig. 7) is deeply sinuate, somewhat resembling that of C. Newsteadi. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV. 



Fig. 1 — Ceratophyllus Garei <J 9th tergite. 



„ 2 — „ „ <? 8th sternite. 



,, 3- „ „ ? 7th 



„ 4— Ceratophyllus Walkeri £ 9th tergite. 



„ 5 — ,, „ <J Hth sternite. 



„ 6 — Ceratophyllus lagomys $ .8th „ 



„ 7 — Ceratophyllus Walkeri ? 7th „ 



Tring Park, Tring : September, 1902. 



* Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9th edition, vol. ix, p. 301, 1879. 



