NEW MALLOPHAGA. 97 



ored signature, and on each side of it the triangularly- 

 headed anterior projection of the antennal band. 



Docophorus pertusus Nitzsch. (Plate iv, figs. 2 and 3.) 



Germar's Mag. Entomol., 1818, vol. iii, p. 290. 

 Docophorus pertusus Nitzsch, Burmeister, Haudbuch d. Entomologie, 

 1832, vol. if, p. 426; Giebel, Insecta Epizoa, 1874, p. 108, pi. xi, 

 figs. 3, 12; Piaget, Les Pediculines, 1880, p. 89. 



Males, females, and young from eight out of eleven 

 specimens of American Coot, Fulica americana (Monte- 

 rey, California), and from one out of three specimens of 

 same bird species taken at Lawrence, Kansas. A single 

 specimen was taken from a Ruddy Duck, Erismatura 

 rubida (Monterey, California). The Ruddy Ducks and 

 Coots are such constant associates that it is not surprising 

 to find this Coot parasite occasionally on this species of 

 duck. Also a single male was taken from an American 

 Eared Grebe, Colymbus nigricollis californicus (Bay of 

 Monterey, California). The characteristic forcipated 

 appearance of the clypeus easily distinguishes the spe- 

 cies; in some specimens the "pincers" will be found 

 closed, so that the deep frontal emargination is quite en- 

 closed, while in others the "pincers" will be open. My 

 specimens do not agree with Giebel's figures and Piaget's 

 description as to length of signature; in my specimens 

 the acuminate posterior point extends quite to the mandi- 

 bles. I figure a female, and an immature specimen. 

 The young stage is interesting, as it shows no evidence 

 of the pincer-like condition of the clypeus, and the cly- 

 peal signature is arrested far in front of the mandibles. 

 The measurements of the specimens figured are: Fe- 

 male, body, length 2. mm., width .92 mm.; head, length 

 .6 mm., width .6 mm. Immature, body, length 1.7 mm., 

 width .84 mm.; head, length .52 mm., width .5 mm. 

 Nitzsch's specimens were found on Fulica atra. 



Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., 2d See., Vol. VI. (7) March 12, 189(i. 



