AXD SPECIES OF SIPHONAPTERA FROM NYASALAND. 2J1 



Abdomen. — The abdominal tergites ii to v or vi have each a row of ten bristles 

 on the two sides together, there being also a row of small bristles on the first 

 segment of the ^f and segments i to v of the Q, the numbers of this anterior 

 row being in the Q, 7-5-5-3-2 on the two sides together. The first tergite, 

 moreover, bears an apical comb of 7 short spines, the second segment having 

 2 spines in the c? ^^i 3 in the Q , the third and fourth none in the (^ , but 2 and 

 1 respectively in the Q . The antepygidial bristle is as long as the first hind 

 tarsal segment. The sternites of segments iii to vii bear in the (^ 2 bristles, 

 the basal sternite having none, the numbers being 2 in the Q on the segments 

 ii to V, 3 or 4 on vi, and 6 on segment vii. 



Legs. — The comb of the hind coxa contains 7 or 8 spines placed in a row. The 

 femora bear on the outside a single ventral bristle at some distance from the 

 apex, and on the inside a smaller one nearer to the apex, the mid and hind femora 

 not having any lateral bristles. The hind femur is remarkable for its shape, the 

 yentral surface not being so strongly convex near the base as. is the case in most 

 fleas, but being thickest about its centre. The mid and hind femora have 

 7 dorsal notches, the first, second, fourth, and seventh (apical) notches bearing- 

 each a pair of bristles. There is a row of 8 lateral bristles on the hind tibia, 

 and the longest dorsal apical bristle of this tibia is only half as long again as the 

 tibia is broad ; this bristle is stout and blunt, being less pointed and a little 

 shorter than the longest ventral apical bristle. The bristles of the mid tarsus 

 are short, the longest apical bristle of the first segment being only as long as the 

 segment is broad. The longest bristle of the first segment of the hind tarsus is 

 shorter than this segment, and the corresponding bristle of the second segment 

 does not reach to the centre of the third segment. The most noteworthy feature 

 of the tarsi is the shortness of the first segment in the mid and hind tarsi, the 

 measurements of these tarsi being as follows : — - 



mid tarsus d, 14-19-13-7-20; Q, 15-20-13-8-20. 

 hind tarsus d, 27-27-17-8-20; Q, 30-29-17-9-22. 



The four pairs of bristles of the fifth tarsal segment are lateral, the segment 

 also bearing ventrally at the apex two short Stout bristles, which are well 

 separated from one another. 



Modified segments. — (S . The eighth abdominal tergite is small, and the large 

 stigma occupies the greater part of it. The eighth sternite is about as large as 

 that of the seventh segment. It bears two or three bristles placed close together 

 at the apical margin, the upper bristle being the largest. The clasper is elongate, 

 its dorsal margin being excurved beyond the centre and then incurved, while the 

 ventral margin is evenly and slightly excurved. A long bristle and a short one 

 and two minute hairs are placed at the upper margin of the clasper, and four 

 bristles at and below the apex, the upper one of them being the longest. The 

 finger (fig. 2, F) is quite short. The manubrium (M) is long and slender. The 

 ninth sternite has a broad vertical arm, which ends in a rather long point ; the 

 horizontal arm is constricted before the apex, and bears two apical bristles. 

 The hind edge of the sensory plate of the ninth segment projects dorsally. 

 The anal sternite bears on each side at the apex two long bristles and a shorter 

 one. The clasping organs resemble those of LejHnpsylla aganippes, Roths. (1904), 

 ta a certain extent, especially the clasper and finger. 



