296 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



in the males, and serve to clasp the females while the eggs are being fertilized. It is 

 of about the same length as the preceding species, but has an abdomen very broadly 

 rounded, and markedly wider than the conspicuous niesothorax. It is said to be very 

 common upon the peacock, and to be found after the death of the bird congregated 

 in considerable numbers around the base of the beak and crown of the head. 



The turkey-louse has the posterior angles of its broadly lyrate head drawn back- 

 wards in slender, long processes; the prothorax is very narrow, curvedly tapering 

 towards the head, and angular each side behind ; while the broad, oval abdomen is 

 fringed on the sides with bundles of exceptionally long bristles. It frequents the 

 head, neck, and breast of the common turkey. The lice of the deer, sheep, etc., 

 have only one tai'sal nail, and belong to the sub-genus Trichodectes. 



The next great family, Liotheid^, is composed of species, many of which closely 

 resemble the unwinged forms of white ants and Psoctis, having four-jointed, stout 

 antennae with the tip joint thickened, a generally trilobate head, conspicuous max- 

 illary palpi, either two-jointed or one-jointed tarsi, and correspondingly with two 

 nails, or in Gh/ropus with only one nail. 



These live upon falcons, pigeons, the stork, rook, magpie, and various wading 

 birds, such as the heron, and egret. The genus Gyropus lives amidst the fur of the 

 Guinea pig, and sometimes literally swarms in places about their neck and ears. The 

 species are yellowish, marked with chestnut brown, especially upon the head, thorax, 

 and legs, and have a broad ovate or elliptical body, with the head lobate behind. 



Much interest attaches to these little creatures, notwithstanding the disagreeable 

 impression commonly produced by their presence upon our domestic pets. They 

 possess such an extraordinary gathering of structural variations, have so many 

 peculiar modes of life, and often display such a marked degree of individuality, that 

 they deserve to be carefully studied in order to become more accurately known. 

 During the life of their host, they know quite well how to evade the scrutiny of man, 

 and they are often diflBcult to discover, even in regions of a bird's plumage where 

 they are known to exist. 



They are also extensively distributed over the greater part of the world, being 

 found upon the roaming aquatic and marine, as well as upon the terrestrial birds and 

 animals, and attack the lofty eagle as readily as the plunging diver. 



P. R. TJhlek. 



