428 ZOOLOGY. 
London,” Nov. 5, 1872, a new family of Coleoptera under the term a 
Platypsyllide, founded on Platypsylla castoris (Fig. 82), made — 
known by Ritsema, who discovered it on — 
specimens of the American beaver in the — 
Zoological gardens of Amsterdam. A little — 
later Prof. Westwood described it under the — 
name of Platypsyllus castorinus, a singular 
coincidence as regards the scientific name. — 
Ritsema regarded it as representing a family e 
of the Aphaniptera, equivalent in value to — 
the Pulicide, i. e., dipterous. Westwood — 
thought it to be a type of a new order of — 
insects, the Achreioptera. Dr. LeConte, and i 
we are fortunate in having in our country : 
one who easily leads the ranks of Coleopter 3 
ists, after a hasty examination, regarded the — 
insect as coleopterous, a conclusion confirmed by farther careful 
study, the results of which are presented in the beautiful paper — 
before us. > 
In this singular insect, the body is long oval, flattened, spiny 
on the exposed portions, resembling at first sight a minute cock- 7 
roach, and of the same color. The wing covers are small, not : 
‘ 
; 
Fig. 82. 
Platypsylla castoris. 
longer than the prothorax, and the head is nearly semiciroular, A 3 
are very composite, but all in the direction of the Adephage 
and Clavicorn series, though chiefly with the latter. The ™ 
convenient position of the family will probably be between 
equally strongly manifested. It is ‘therefore a very ar 
extraordinary synthetic type, which is almost equally in and 
f place in any linear arrangement of the series with wile® 
allied.” eta: 
As this parasite occurs on our native beaver we hope our 
uralists will be on the lookout for specimens, and carefully ¢ 
ine the fur of these animals for that purpose. | 
