224 Soiitlicrii Cross. 



PTERYGOTA. 



IIEMirTERA TARASITICA. 



rEDICULID.E. 

 By the Hon. N. C. lioTiisciiiLT), B.A. 



ECHINOPTHIRIUS SETOSUS. 



Pediculus setosus, Lucas, Magazin de Zool., TV., i'. 121, f. 12. 



Thirteen specimens of this species were secured by the ' Southern 

 Cross ' Expedition from the Antarctic Seal {Ogmorldims leptojiycr) on 

 October 6th, 1899 (cf. Borchgrevink, ' First on Antarctic Continent,' 

 p. 184). 



This species is known to be a parasite of the common seal 

 (Phoca vitulina). I have, however, failed to find any distinguishing 

 characters between the thirteen specimens from the South Polar 

 Seas and examples from the better known host. 



Piaget^ characterizes the genus EcMnoptliirins as possessing four- 

 jointed antenna;, pointing out, moreover, that by this character 

 Echinnpthirius may be readily distinguished from Hmmatopiims. 



I am inclined to consider Piaget to be mistaken in this respect, 

 as the first two joints of the antenna; are, under a low power, some- 

 what dilHcult to distinguish. Lucas, moreover, in liis description of 

 rcdiriilvs setosus, mentioned the five-jointed antcnme. 



' Lcs I'udiculincp, Vol. I., p. 05G. 



