72 [March, 



Very common in England and Scotland in the nests of most 

 birds, and in hen-bouses. Not recorded from Ireland. 



19. Geratophyllus fringillae Walk. (1856). 



(Figs. 37, 38). 



Much paler than gallvnae, which it resembles, smaller, the 

 bristles slenderer, comb of pronotum with 29 or more spines, while 

 in gallinae it contains usually less than 28. Apical portion of 

 metanotum less ehitinised than in gallinae, with one or no apical 

 spines. Metathoracic epimerum with four or five bristles. Hind- 

 femur with an inside row of usually more than seven lateral bristles. 

 The bristles on the ventral surface of the segments one to four of 

 all tarsi fewer in number. 



^ , Eough inside area of eighth tergite much narrower than in 

 gallinae, being only as bi'oad as the apex of the fifth hindtarsal 

 segment. The eighth sternite (fig. 37) with two or three apical bristles, 

 which are shorter and thinner than in gallinae, being less than two-thii'ds 

 the length of the finger. The membranaceous apical flap of the 

 eighth sternite is narrower than in gallinae and forms a continuation 

 of the sternite, being less directed upward than in gallinae. The 

 bristles at the posterior edge of the finger are thinner than in gallinae ; 

 moreover, the upper one is longer than the other two, and the small 

 one situated between the upper one and the next is much less spine- 

 like than in gallinae, being in fringillae longer and thinner than in 

 that species. The apical piece of the paramere is shorter than in 

 gallinae. 



5 . Seventh sternite (fig. 38) more strongly rounded than in 

 gallinae, with thinner bristles. Upper and lower antepygidial bristles 

 longer than in gallinae, lower one more than one-third the central 

 bristle. Three or four small bristles on eighth tergite above stigma. 

 Eeceptacukim seminis narrower than in gallinae. 



Fairly common in the nests of the house sparrow (Passer 

 domesticus) , also on other passerine birds. Not recorded from Ireland. 



b. Mammal -Ceratophylli. 



Prothoracic comb with less than 24 spines. Bristles of second 



antennal segment in (^ much shorter than club (except we^is (^), in 



? at most slightly longer than club. Stylet either with two long 



