APPENDIX C 117 



full of the larval fleas; but in any case fleas will 

 probably emerge from pupse. The fleas will continue 

 appearing for as much as six weeks or eight weeks 

 after the young birds have left the nest. They must 

 be watched for and taken off the sides and top of the 

 box with a camel's hair brush dipped in chloroform 

 or benzine. I have seen dozens of fleas come from 

 the nest of a tit (Parus major) in the course of a 

 few weeks. They were all of the common species 

 (G. gallince). When the lid of the box is removed it 

 is difficult to prevent a few escaping in the room, but 

 I have never known them cause inconvenience to 

 anyone. 



Collectors in warm countries should give their 

 attention to the chigoes and their allies, which are 

 of great interest and have been little studied. They 

 are found on mammals and birds in tropical and 

 semi-tropical countries. The males are very difficult 

 to find, but the females are large and very parasitic. 

 They have the appearance of a small wart firmly fixed 

 to the skin. Small mammals may be transferred, 

 with their chigoes attached, to a bottle of alcohol. 

 Many examples of these insects are often found 

 together on the more naked portions of their hosts. 



