Oü some Mallophaga. 41 



Menopon tt'ot/JofJtjti Denny (1842). 



M. trof/iodyll Denny , Monogr. Anopl. Brit. , p. 221, tab. 18, fig. 7 



(1842). 



2 ^^, 3 ?$. Troglodijtes borcalis. 



Gjanoyri, 16./8. 1912. K. Schreiber leg. 



A number of species of Menopon have been described from the 

 smaller passerines and such specimens as we have from these hosts 

 bear a strong general resemblance to oiie another. The names will 

 probably have to be reduced bnt we expect M. troylodytis Denny 

 will stand unless it is a synonym for M. pusüliim N. [Motacilla alba). 

 Still we must regard this Identification is provisional. 



These Faroe examples are adult and very dark in colour. In 

 Shetland we have taken mainly immature specimens and the few 

 adults Seen appear to be paler than Dr. Dampf's captures. 



Menopon sp, 



2 $$. Sturnns vulgaris faroensis (2 expl.). 



Gjanoyri (Strömö), 10./8. 1912. Schreiber leg. 



The starling (S. vulgaris) harbours regularly in Britain two 

 species of Menopon. The first of these is the unmistakable M. cucu- 

 lare N. which belongs to a well marked group found characteristically 

 on the Corvidae and distinguished morphologically by the sudden 

 broadening of the head behind the eye ; by the sliape of the thorax ; 

 the male genitalia and in both sexes by the peculiar 2. abdominal 

 Segment whose sternite bears on each side a patch (3—4) of strong 

 spines. The 2. tergite (? only) is produced posteriorly as in M. meso- 

 Jeucum etc. In a fresh condition M. cuculare N. is tinged all over 

 with yellow. 



This well defined Menopon appears never to be very common 

 and it is often replaced and sometimes accompanied by its more 

 generalised congener of which Dr. Dampf's 2 ?? are examples. At 

 present we hesitate to assign it a name. Piaget (Les Pediculines, 

 p. 439, tab. 33, fig. 3, 1880) has described a M. flavescens from Sturnns 

 cristatellus and this species has since been reported from Italy. 

 M. flavescens F. seems to us to be similar to M. cuculare and to 

 have nothing to do with the insect under discussion. 



