NEW MALLOPHAGA. 99 



Despite ; the smaller size I do not understand, from the 

 description, how Picaglia's D. larinus (Atti d. Soc. Ital. 

 d. Sci. Nat., 1885, vol. xxviii) differs specifically from 

 I art. 



Docophorus melanocephalus Burmeister. (Plate iv, 

 fig. 6.) 



Burmeister, Handbook d. Entoniologie, 1S32, vol.ii, p. 426. 

 Docophorus laricola Nitzsch. (in pars) Zeitschr. f. ges. Naturwiss. (ed. 



Giebel) 1866, vol. xxviii, p. 363. 

 Docophorus caspicus Nitzsch. Zeitschr. f. ges. Naturwiss. (ed. Giebel) 



1S66, vol. xxviii, p. 361, fig. 87. 

 Docophorus melanocephalus Burro. Giebel, Insecta Epizoa, 1874, p. 



110, PI. xi, fig. 8; Piaget, Les Pediculines, p. 109, pi. ix, fig. 5. 



Many specimens taken from the Royal Tern, Sterna 

 maxima. 



This is the most abundant parasite of this Tern (Bay 

 of Monterey, California). I found it on every one of 

 fourteen specimens shot. The European authors record 

 its occurrence on Sterna casftia, cantiaca, and on Larus 

 ridibunda and cirrocephalus (localities?). Giebel de- 

 scribes also as a distinct species lobaticefts (Insecta Epizoa, 

 p. 109), a closely related, if not identical, form taken on 

 Sterna hirundo and Sterna Jissipcs. Piaget believes loba- 

 ticeps to be identical with melanocephalus. 



The distinguishing characters of melanocephalus are its 

 general dark color, its especially dark colored head, 

 prominent signature with long acuminate point reaching 

 the mandibles, slightly convex clypeal front, and the 

 presence of a small spine and a short hair in the eye. 

 The measurements of the female specimen figured are: 

 Length 2.1 mm., width .9 mm.; head, length .65 mm., 

 width .65 mm. 



Nirmus praestans n. sp. (Plate v, figs, i and 2.) 



Taken on the Royal Tern, Sterna maxima (Bay of 

 Monterey, California). But two specimens, both males, 



