132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxix. 



Genus CERATOPH YLLUS Curtis. 



1903. Ceratophyllun Kohaut, Magyar, bolhai, \). 41. 



1904. Ceratophy llus TinABOscHi, Archiv. de Parasit., VIII, p. 2()0. 



A complete revision of this genus — even now nnich needed — will 

 be a matter of the greatest difficulty. Of many of the species both 

 sexes are not yet known. Many of the American species recently 

 described by Rothschild are not known f roln specimens in this coun- 

 try; the types have probabl}' permanently left America. The prepara- 

 tion of this second table of the species — although it is a great improve- 

 ment over the first — has l)een a very unsatisfactory piece of work. It 

 was impossible to use those characters believe'd to be of most impor- 

 tance in the separation of species, since they were rareh" described 

 for each and ever}" species. No one who has not tried it can appreci- 

 ate the obstacles to be encountered in the preparation of a synopsis of 

 a great genus of many species from the descriptions of several authors. 

 Every author should at least mention every character used b}' ever^^ 

 other author. The writer has suffered probably as much by his own 

 remissness as by that of any other person, l)ut this does not detract 

 from the truth or vital taxonomical importance of the proposition. 



Material of all American CeratopJiylhi.s species is greatly desired 

 by the writer, and it is hoped that American entomologists and mam- 

 malogists will neglect no opportunity for their collection. The older 

 species must be better known and there unquestional)ly still remain 

 numerous new ones to discover. 



When we came down to the separation of species, by the " turn of a 

 hair "" it was realized that the time had come to inidertake extensive 

 variational studies. With that in view, certain species in very critical 

 groups were collected in large series, and have been mounted to the 

 number of hundreds of specimens. Important results are expected 

 from their extended comparative study. 



SYNOPSIS OF AMERICAN SPECIES. 

 (Excepting grumlandirus. ) 

 A. Metatarsal 'article II with apical spines scarcely e(]ualing III or shorter. 



E. Metatarsal article V with lateral spines all in line on margins, though the first 

 pair may be more or less bent inward. 

 C. Uj^iier genal row of bristles extended nearly to genal margin and composed 

 of five or six bristles. 



I). Labial palpi not reaching end of coxae abantis 



DD. Labial palpi reaching end of coxse or even of trochanters. 



E. Disk of vertex back of antennal groove with six stout bristles asio 



EE. Disk of vertex back of antennal groove with one to three bristles. 

 F. Subpygidial group of bristles in female with one oblique row of four 

 large bristles and with two smaller bristles above these; 

 ventral group on eighth tergite of three large bristles and 



about fourteen smaller ones lucifer 



FF. Subpygidial group of bristles in female with three large bristles only; 

 ventral group on eighth tergite with three or four large 

 bristles lucidus 



