92 



found infected with Trypanosoma cnizi, Chagas. Triatoma spp. were 

 never found in the woods, and specimens considered to be Triatotna 

 by the persons who collected them were found to belong to the genera 

 Apiomerus, Hamtnatocerus, Pachylis, etc. The species of Triatoma 

 found in houses were also noticed on the bark of fence posts of corrals. 

 In places where goats and Cerodon rupestris both occur the goats 

 sleep near the burrows of the rodents, and T. hrasiliensis associated 

 with the latter are able to feed on them. 



In a region where mal de caderas was general no capybara {Hydro- 

 choerus capybara) were found or known to occur. This rodent is there- 

 fore not a necessary reservoir of the virus. Near Parnagua it was 

 very abundant, but no mortality such as might be caused by an 

 epizootic due to Trypanosoma equinum had been noticed by the 

 inhabitants. 



DermatopJiilus penetrans is rare in the dry zone and unknown 

 around S. Raymundo, because only few pigs are bred there and the 

 people wear foot-gear on account of the thorny vegetation. In 

 places where the inhabitants go unshod and pigs are kept, D. penetrans 

 occurs and increases during the dry months. It was not possible 

 to determine the species of a DermatopJiilus infesting the feet of a 

 tapir {Tapir us), an animal from which D. penetrans has not yet been 

 recorded. 



Besides Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalus felis, Boh., and C. canis, Curtis, 

 two other fleas, Pulex conepati, Aim. Cunha, taken from Conepatus 

 suffocans, and P. irritans var. bahiensis, Aim. Cunha, were collected. 



Sarcoptes scabiei var. equi, Gerlach, was a common ectoparasite of 

 the horse. 



Chrysomyia macellaria, F., was almost solely responsible for all 

 the human and animal myiases met with during the journey ; this 

 fly occurs throughout the year, but is less common during the colder 

 months. Stomoxys calcitrans, which was imported into Brazil with 

 the introduction of horses, enjoys a large choice of breeding places. 

 It has been suspected of transmitting mal de caderas, which disease 

 was found throughout the journey. 



Staphylinid beetles of the genus Paederus, which are greatly feared 

 for the blisters caused by them, were collected and will be dealt with 

 in a future paper. Dermestes cadaveriniis, L., was very common and 

 also other similar species, the larvae of which do great damage to 

 hides and leather. 



The Muscid, Mydaea pici, Macq., not previously known in Brazil, 

 was found infesting various birds. Other parasites of birds included 

 a number of Hippoboscids, mostly belonging to the genera Olfersia, 

 Wied., and Pseudolfersia, Coq. These transmitters of Haematozoa of 

 the genus Haemoproteus, Kruse, will require to be carefully studied. 

 A list of the host-birds is given. Not a single Tabanid was seen on 

 the island of Meio in the Lake of Parnagua owing to the abundance 

 of the predaceous wasp, Monedula signata, L. Myiasis due to Oestrid 

 flies occm's only sporadically in the dry zone, Dermatobia hominis 

 being rare. In some parts it is said that this fly oviposits on persons 

 or on clothes hung up out of doors, especially if the latter be wet with 

 perspiration. If true, this may account for cases of infestation in 

 newly born children. 



