Some Habits and Hosts of Bird Ceratophylli. 73 



VIII. — "On some Habits and Hosts of Bird Ceratophylli taken in 

 Scotland in 1909; with description of a new species (C. roth* 

 schildi), and records of various Siphonaptera." By James 

 Waterston, B.D., B.Sc. 



(Read 24th January 1910. Received 31st January 1910.) 



The immediate occasion of the present paper was the discovery of a new 

 Ce.ratophyllus sparingly represented in a long series of G. farreni, Eothsch., 

 received in October 1909. This abundant material (farreni), then and sub- 

 sequently examined, also afforded an opportunity of making some observations 

 on life-history, etc., which, with others of slower accumulation, have now 

 been put into a more connected form. The captures made last year include 

 all the known British bird fleas of the genus Ceratophyllus. This result 

 must be ascribed to the hearty co-operation of several workers who searched 

 for nests and sometimes forwarded linings. Whenever practicable, however, 

 a personal visit to the various localities indicated was paid to ensure 

 identification of the host, if necessary, and to gather proper material. All 

 the assistance rendered has, I hope, been acknowledged, but special mention 

 must be made of the services of the following — Messrs A. Bennett, jun., 

 Arniston, Midlothian; J. Brown, Lochgelly, Fifeshire; J. F. Cormack, jun., 

 Lockerbie ; J. Gfoag, Loudoun, Ayrshire ; Rev. J. E. Fraser and A. M'Innes, 

 Kinneff, Kincardineshire. To these gentlemen, and to all who have helped, my 

 warmest thanks are due. I have also been indebted in very many ways to 

 the unfailing kindness of the Hon. N. Charles Rothschild, M.A., who has 

 made the study of the Siphonaptera peculiarly his own. 



So much remains to be done among the bird Ceratophylli of Scotland 

 not simply in working out their local distribution and the various cecological 

 problems connected with them, but almost certainly in the discovery of 

 new species, that it might seem idle to attempt to indicate where investiga- 

 tion may most profitably be directed. A good rule is never to pass a nest, 

 while every examination made should be as exhaustive as possible. But 

 special attention might now be given to for rarer breeders, and to all sea birds 

 and Raptores. A detailed record, say, of the fleas taken in the nest of a 

 Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) during a breeding season would add 

 materially to our knowledge of these insects. 



No one is more aware than the writer how fragmentary are many of the 

 following notes, and how tentatively any conclusions as to habits, etc., should 

 be offered. These remarks, however, will perhaps serve as a basis for further 



VOL. XVIII. F 



