Ou some Mallophaga. 25 



a) That tlie D. semisignatus of Denny's monograph is a valid 

 species, distinct from the species of Bocophorus fonnd on Corvus 

 cornix and C. corotie, C. friigüegus and C. monedula. 



The "Benny" Collection contains under ^'semisignatus'' tlie follo- 

 wing : 



1. 3 specimens labelled '^coracis'" in tlie writing of Adam White 

 (teste C. J. Gahan). 



2. 5 examples in Denny's own name. 



3. 3 examples from Stephen's Collection. 



These 11 examples represent one species, that viz, which we 

 have alwaj's found on the Kaven. Denny believed this form to be 

 Nitzsch's species. In this we think him right in spite of what 

 PiAGET has written. ßut should Piaget prove to be correct — 

 (a remote contingency possible only if Giebel hat not the true 

 Docophoms of the Raven before him) — the name semisignatus must 

 even than flgure on our lists with Denny as author. 



b) We also consider that Piaget had good reason to hesitate 

 before describing his Docophorus albidus from Corvus scapulatus as 

 both description and figure (Les Pediculines, p. 48, tab. 3, fig. 6), 

 apply exactly to paler examples of the Raven parasite. 



In connection with the whole question Dr. Dampe's Faroe ma- 

 terial is of great interest. 



From 3 examples of Corvus corax varius a long series of 

 Bocophorus was secured. 



These may be gronped as follows : 



1. a) 4 ^S, 7 ??, 26 imm. | Gjanoyri (Strömö) 16. and 17./9. 



1912. K. Scheeibee leg., 2 birds, 



2. b) 18 S^, 30 $$, 193 imm.J parasites in one tube originally. 

 c) 26 c?(^, 15 ?$, 15 imm. Naalsö 18./9. 1912. Peteesen leg. 



We have separated a) from b) with some hesitation and without 

 suggesting that they came from the birds shot on the 16. and 17. 

 respectively. Lot a) are distinctly paler than lots b) and c) which 

 agree completely. They i. e. a) are typical examples of albidus or 

 semisignatus. Possibiy a) and b) and c) represent one form 



aj consisting of individuals which have recently passed through 

 a moult. If so the colours must take some time to establish them- 

 selves for in (a) the jaws aredark and sometimes closed round feather 

 fibres, 



Lots b) and c) are strikingly dark for semisignatus. Spots or 

 markings normally outlined merely or broadly edged with black 



