1915.] 55 



II. Genus: PULEX L. (1758). 



Mesosternite very narrow, without internal chitinous rod from the 

 insertion of the coxa up to the upper margin (fig. 2). Head with 

 internal incrassation from antenual groove upwards (fig. 2). Ante- 

 pygidial bristles placed at some distance from the edge of the segment. 

 Sexual organs of male with very lai-ge flap. A number of slender 

 bristles on the inner side of the posterior portion of the hindcoxa. 



One species. 



2. PuLEX IRRITANS L. (1758). 



A large, compact, dark species. Hindfemur with a lateral row of 

 seven or more bristles on the inside. Fifth tarsal segment widening 

 towards apex, with very strong lateral bristles. This segment in the 

 hindtarsus longer than second segment. 



^ . Sensory plate very short. Two strongly chitinised processes 

 forming a pair of nippers on inside of a large flap. 



$ . Dorsal edge of eighth abdominal tergite projecting above the 

 sensory plate. Head of receptaculum seminis nearly globular, less 

 than half the length of the tail, which is slender. 



Common on man, and often found on the badger (Meles nieles) ; 

 also on the fox {Vulpes vulpes). 



III. Genus: ARCHAEOPSYLLA Bampf (1908). 



Genal comb with one or two spines (usually two) on each side 

 (fig. 3) . Prothoracic comb with six or less spines on the two sides 

 together. One species. 



3. Archaeopsylla erinacei Bouch' (1835). 

 (Fig. 3). 



A large pale species. The race found in Great Britain and 

 Northern and Central Europe is A. erinacei erinacei ; a second race 

 occurs in Portugal and North Africa {A. erinacei maurus). 



A strong internal incrassation of the head from the antennal 

 groove upwards. Abdominal sternites two to six with only one or 

 two bristles on each side. The bristles on the other parts of the 

 body less numerous than in all the other British Pulicidae. Bristles 

 at the posterior edge of the tibiae very slender. 



