18 MONOGRAPHIA 



spoon/' Now whether this was owing to his coming in 

 contact with a legion on its march, or whether it might not 

 be that a fresh subject has attractions for such puny perse- 

 cutors, is a question for the decision of competent judges ; 

 of one thing however we are certain, that this locality was 

 well stocked with this peculiar species of game. The lower 

 classes in Spain and Portugal, are said to be much infested 

 with Lice, but whether under this generic name we are to 

 understand the Capitis, or Vestimenti or both, I have 

 never ascertained. Though it would appear most probable 

 the latter is the case, as they are generally the companions 

 of disease, poverty, and filth. These creatures however are 

 not regarded as unwelcome visitors by all nations, since we 

 are told that the Hottentots and other nations of Western 

 Africa, as well as some of the American Tribes eat them, 

 and are so well pleased with their dainty morsel that they 

 not only collect them themselves, but employ their wives in 

 the chase,* and have thence been called Phthirophagi ; Dr. 

 Richardson informs me that during the overland expedition 

 under Sir J. Franklin, he <c daily observed the Indian women 

 cracking their parasites between their teeth with much ap- 

 parent enjoyment." Monkeys have the same propensity. It 

 is stated,^ that in India, however dirty the parties may be, 

 lice are never found, except in the head, which, if correct, 

 is a singular circumstance. 



3 PEDICULUS TABESCENTIUM. (Distemper Louse.) 



Pale yellow; head rotundate; antennae long; thorax 

 large and quadrate; abdomen large, the segments inti- 

 mately united. 



* Kirby and Spence, vol. i. p. 311. 



f Griffith's Animal Kingdom, vol. xiv.p. 150. 163. 



