were sent me from Texas, where they not only attack poultry but also 

 children, the latter somewhat severely. It also occurs on cats, and is 

 found on rats in Africa. It has been introduced into North America. 

 [Three other species are found on rats, viz. : E. myrmecobii, 

 Rothsch., from Australia; E. iiiuriiin, Tirah, from Southern Europe; 

 and E. liopus, Rothsch,, India and Western Australia. F. V. T.] 



Family. Pulicidae (True Fleas). 

 ROTHSCHILD'S CLASSIFICATION is as follows : 



SECTION I. Club of antennas distinctly segmented only on the hind side. 



Key to Genera. 



a. No comb on head and thorax. 



a 1 . The internal incrassation, which extends from the inser- 

 tion of the mid coxa into the thorax, joins the anterior 

 edge of the mesosternite ... ... ... ... ... Pulex. 



&. This incrassation joins the upper edge of the mesosternite Xenopsylla. 



b. With a comb on the pronotum only Hoplopsyllus. 



. With a comb on the pronotum and at the lower edge of the 



head ... Ctejiocephalus, 



SECTION II. Club of antennae distinctly segmented all round. 



Key to Genera. 



a. Eye developed. 



a 1 . No comb on head. 



a* 1 . Pygidium not projecting backwards ; frons with 



tubercle Ceratophyllus. 



b*. Pygidiurn strongly convex, projecting backwards ; frons 



without tubercle Pygiopsylla. 



P. Two spines at angle of gense Chiastopsylla. 



b. Eye vestigial or absent. 



a 1 . Abdomen without comb. 



a 2 . Hind edge of tibiae with about eight short and several 



long bristles, which do not form a comb. 

 a 3 . Fifth segment in fore and mid tarsi with five, and in 



hind tarsus with four bristles ... ... ... Neopsylla. 



&. Fifth segment in fore and mid tarsi with four, and in 

 hind tarsus with three lateral bristles, there being 

 an additional pair of bristles in all the tarsi on the 



ventral surface in between the first pair Ctenophthalmus . 



P. Hind edge of tibiae with about twelve short and three 



long bristles, the short ones forming a kind of comb Ctenopsylla. 

 P. Abdomen with at least one comb ... Hystricopsylla. 



Genus. Pulex, Linn. 



Pulex irritans, L., 1758. 



Male 2 to 2-5 mm. in length, females about 4 mm. ; reddish or 



dark brown ; head without bristles; thoracic and abdominal rings of 



bristles on the dorsal aspect, and small hairs directed backwards at 



he posterior margin. The barrel-shaped white eggs are deposited 



