HE.SEAECn IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA. 23S 



infested with lice in the rieigkbourliood of the nose and mouth, even when there 

 are none to be found on other parts of the body. Large quantities of each 

 species should be collected, and also larvas in all their stages. The eggs are also of 

 very great importance. They are always laid on the hairs, and the hairs should 

 fee cut off with the eggs adhering to them. The parasites from each individual host 

 should always be kept separate from any others, whether these are collected on 

 the same species of animal or a different one, and it should be noted that as the 

 parasites leave their host as soon as it gets cold, there should be no loss of time 

 in examining tiie dead animal. Lice can frequently be collected from mammals 

 in captivity in zoological gardesns, especially when they are freshly captured. 

 For preserving lice the following method is recommended. The parasites and 

 their eggs and larvse have simply to be placed in a small glass tabe filled with 

 alcohol. A label should then be inserted giving the name of the host, the date, 

 and locality. When recording data the following points are essential : — (1) 

 Exact locality and its altitude :; (2) date ; i(.3) the name of the host, and if this 

 is unknown, a number corresponding to numbered specimens of the host ; 

 *(4) the age and sex of the best ; (5) condition of the host, i.e., whether weak 

 -or emaciated, or in good condition ; (6) position on the body of the host where 

 lice were chiefly found and also position of the eggs ; (7) collector's name. 



IL — Biting Lice (Mallophaga). 



The biting lice or Mallophaga, which live on hair and feathers, are in no 

 way related to the prcYionsly mentioned An'OPLURA, but are Neuroptera 

 allied to the Copeognatha (Psocidce). They undoubtedly bear a striking 

 superficial resemblance to the Anoplura, especially as they possess tarsi with 

 strongly developed claws, and the thorax and abdomen are strongly compressed 

 dorso-ventrally, but notwithstanding all these characters they are in no way 

 related. 



The biting lice living on mammals (sometimes called hair lice) occur, like the 

 sucking lice, on all mammals, and the eggs of these parasites, which are very 

 important and have a characteristic shape for each species, should be carefully 

 collected. The feather lice or biting lice found on birds cannot be combed ont 

 from their hosts, which is the method suggested for the previously-mentioned 

 insects. These must be taken off from the host with a brush previously 

 moistened with chloroform or benzine. On one species of bird quite a number of 

 lice of different genera and species can often be found. The eggs of feather 

 lice are generally laid on the under surface of the feathers and frequently on the 

 base of the feather, and as they are usually deposited in little groups they can 

 ■easily be cut off and preserved. Collectors should note that some species of 

 Mallophaga, like the Anoplura, often leave their host as soon as it gets 

 •cold. The method of preservation for Mallophaga is the same as that 

 3-ecomraended for the Anoplura. 



