A New Flea from South Africa. 195 



Modified Segments — 



$ (see Fig. 3) — manubrium long. The first process of the clasper long, 

 with sub-parallel sides and numerous short hairs. Second process 

 short, broader distally than proximally, with 9-10 bristles disposed 

 mainly on the edges : 2 or 3 at the apical edge, longer, stouter and 

 slightly curved. The 9th sternite is broad in the basal portion, 

 which is angled dorsally and ventrally. It is contracted where it 

 issues from the 8th sternite, and roundly curved for the remainder 

 of its course with numerous ventral hairs throughout. In both $ $ 

 there is a curious thickened projection of darker chitin into the 

 clear membranous region of the sternite. 

 ^ (see Figs. 4, 5, and 6) — The 8t,h tergite bears along the apical edge a 

 row of some 13 spines or bristles. About half of these occur near 

 the edge ventrally ; the remainder, set in a line which curves back 

 somewhat from the edge of the teigite, are remarkably stout. 

 Besides these, each side of the tergite bears about 30 scattered 

 bristles, mainly on the ventral aspect (see Fig. 4). The 10th 

 segment is very bristly (see Fig. 5). The stylet with one long 

 terminal bristle and two minute ones near the base 



Length. — $ , 1 8-1-9 mm. £ , 24-27 mm. 



2 $ $ and 12 $ £ of this species have been received from the Rev. 

 Robert Godfrey, M.A., Pirie, King William's Town, South Africa. These 

 specimens were taken from nests of the cliff swallow (Petrochelidon spilodera), 

 also from the birds themselves, and on the walls of a building at Emgwali, 

 Dohne, Cape Colony, where the swallow nested (30 : xii : 09). 



The occurrence of a species of Xenopsylla on a bird is noteworthy, and the 

 present instance hardly looks as if it were accidental. X. conformis, Wagn., 

 was described from a pair of insects taken "off a small species of owl," from 

 Sultan Bent, River Mourgab, Transcaspia {Revision Non-combed Eyed SipJwn- 

 aptera, Jordan and Rothschild, pp. 63, 64). 



My best thanks are due to the Hon. N. Charles Rothschild, M.A., for his 

 courtesy in examining some of the above specimens and confirming them as a 

 new species. 



{Issued separately, lith June 1911.) 



