MALLOPHAGA FROM AFRICAN HOSTS. 147 



Linoffnathus forficula, sp. n. (PL IV, figs. 2, 4). 



Many females from a veed-hiick (CervlcajJra arundiiiuni), George^s, Mavimha, 

 District, Nyasaland {Br. E. II. Allan Pash). 



This curious new Linof/nathns is readily distinguished from any other species, 

 so far included in the genus, by the conspicuous forceps-like pair of curved, 

 pointed, posteriorly projecting, abdominal processes of the female. It is most 

 nearly resembled by L. hrevicomis and L. tibialis from antelopes, each of which 

 has an emarginated posterior abdominal border, producing two short obtuse 

 projecting processes, but these processes are not of the forceps-like character 

 which is so pronounced in the new species. 



Female. — Length, 2'.34 mm. ; width, 74 ram. A striking species with plump 

 whitish long abdomen and pale brown short thorax and head. Head with large 

 thick-jointed brown antennas inserted in front of the middle, and with anterior 

 end of head strongly chitinized. But few short hairs on dorsal surface of head 

 and one pair of soft longish ones arising near the postero-lateral margins, which 

 margins are bordered with a strongly chitinized dark brown band. Thorax short, 

 broad, with diverging lateral margins and bearing one pair of strong longish hairs 

 and several minute hairs on the dorsal surface. Entire thorax brownish, because 

 of strong broad diagonal bands that practically cover the dorsal surface. Legs 

 brown, except at sutures which are whitish. Abdomen a little more than twice 

 as long as wide, whitish, except last segment which is brown, with numerous 

 rather longish hairs arranged segmentally in short transverse series on the dorsal 

 surface, each series only extending across the median half of the segment. Two 

 long conspicuous hairs in each postero-lateral angle of the two penultimate 

 segments, and many shorter hairs on the lateral margins of the last forcipated 

 segment. The forceps is made by a deep emargination of the posterior border 

 of the last segment, which emargination, i.e., the inner margin of the forceps, is 

 also lined with short hairs. On the ventral aspect of the posterior end of the 

 abdomen there is a curious, bluntly two-pointed process (PI. IV, fig. 4J. 



Mallophaga. 



Trichochetes climax, Nitzsch. 



Numerous specimens from goats, Ilesha, Southern Nigeria, W. Africa 

 (,/. J. Simpson). 



Nirmus fuscus, Nitzsch. 



Several specimens from an unknown species of owl, Malachal, Egyptian Sudan 

 {H. H. King). 



Nirmus varius, Nitzsch (Plate V, figs. 5, 5«). 



One female from a white-necked raven {Corvultur albicollis), Oshogbo, 

 Southern Nigeria (./. J. Simpson), and an immature specimen from a starling, 

 Malachal, Egyptian Sudan (//. H. King). As Piaget has figured only the head 

 of this striking form we have given an illustration of the whole insect, showing 

 the genital blotch (PI. V, fig. 5«). 



