THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 159 



DESCRIPTION OF A MALLOPHAGOUS PARASITE 



FROM THE KANGAROO. 



By S. A. Le Souef and H. Bullen. 



(Communicated by D. Le Souef, C. M.Z.S.) 



{Read before, the Field Naturalists'' Club of Victoria, 13th January, 1902.) 



This insect (fig. ii on plate) is interesting on account of its 



being only the second two-clawed parasite of the family Liotheidse 



which has been found on a mammal. 



For the previously recorded two-clawed parasite found on the 

 Wombat, the genus Boopia was founded by Piaget. The insect 

 under consideration differs, however, in many respects from it, 

 and closely resembles the sub-genus Menopon, but as that sub- 

 genus has been regarded by former writers as being exclusively 

 confined to birds, in order that there may be no confusion we have 

 determined to found a new genus, Heterodoxus, for it. 



The specimens examined were found on members of the Kan- 

 garoo family, chiefly Wallabies, which were generally thickly 

 infested, and were collected in Victoria, as well as in Queensland. 

 We have not met with it in Western Australia, but it probably 

 exists there also. 



Heterodoxus macropus. — Foimd on Kangaroos, Wallabies, 

 &c. ; colour pale chestnut ; head bluntly conical ; clypeus semi- 

 lunar, basal angles rotundate, base concave ; palpi filiform, four- 

 jointed, and sometimes exserted ; antennae four-jointed, first joint 

 cylindrical, second semi-globular, third goblet-shaped, and fourth 

 capitate ; eyes rather obscure, a dark line extending from base 

 of palpi transversely and then to occiput. Prothorax transversely- 

 ovate, anteriorly truncate, posteriorly convex. Metathorax semi- 

 conical, anteriorly narrow and concave; posteriorly slightly convex, 

 with semi-acute lateral angles. Legs pale, long, and robust, 

 second joint of tarsi long and straight, two divergent ungues ; 

 abdomen elongate ovate, nine segments with lateral margins 

 bluntly serrated ; last segment of male convex, of female truncate. 

 Length — Male ij^ lines, female i^ lines. 



The Walhalla Goldfield. — A comprehensive report on the 

 Walhalla goldfield, by Mr. H. Herman, B.C.E., F.G.S., Acting 

 Government Geologist, illustrated with plates, plans, and sec- 

 tions, has recently been issued by the Department of Mines, 

 Victoria (price 5s,) A full account is given of the geology of 

 the district, which is principally Upper Silurian, and of the 

 numerous mines which have been opened up ; while Mr. A. W. 

 Howitt, F.G.S., furnishes a report on the microscopic exam- 

 ination of a large series of rock sections, and also contributes 

 some interesting notes on the Eucalypts of the district. A list, 

 with notes, of the more noticeable plants found in the neighbour- 

 hood of Walhalla is contributed by Mr. H. T. Tisdall, who 

 enumerates over 400 species, many of which are somewhat rare. 



