12 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 
IV.—A New Species of Jschnopsyllus (I. ashworthii) parasitic 
upon the Cape Horse-Shoe Bat (Rhinolophus augur). By 
James Waterston, B.D., B.Sc. 
(Received 12th November 1912. Read 25th November 1912.) 
AMONGST some Siphonaptera forwarded during the past six months from 
Pirie, King William’s Town, South Africa, by the Rev. Robert Godfrey, M.A., 
there was included an interesting bat flea which appeared to represent a 
new species. In this opinion the Hon. N. Charles Rothschild, M.A., to 
whose generous help the writer has so often been indebted, entirely 
concurs. It is with great pleasure that the writer dedicates this new 
form to Dr J. H. Ashworth. 
Ischnopsyllus ashworthii, spec. nov. 
Hrap.—The frontal portion bears, parallel to the antero-dorsal edge (as 
seen in side-view), a row of hairs, which, exceedingly minute 
at first, increase both in length and strength posteriorly. The 
last hair of this row stands at the edge of the antennal groove 
just above the base of the first joint of the antenna. Below, on 
the side of the head, there are three stout bristles arranged in a 
triangle. Inferior to these again and somewhat in front are one 
or two short hairs. A stout spine, rising from the edge of the 
antennal groove, opposite the insertion of the third joint of the 
antenna, reaches as far as the base of the first coxa. The 
genal process is long; the ventral portion of its hind edge is 
straight, but the dorsal portion is slightly produced. Behind the 
antenna the head is densely clothed with bristles, arranged in 
about five irregular rows. The hindmost row is composed of 
stouter elements, and the first bristle of each row is stronger 
than the others. There is, therefore, above the short hairs 
fringing the antennal groove, a well-marked cross row of bristles. 
At the lower corner of the antennal groove stands a stout, sharp 
spine. 
THORAX.— 
(a) Prothorax.—Pronotum—has 3 irregular rows of bristles, about 8 
in each row, and a long bristle or spine near ventral angle, 
The comb consists of 19 teeth. 
Prosternum, bare. 
