RESEARCH IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA. 239 
infested with lice in the neighbourhood of the nose and mouth, even when there 
are none to be found on other parts of the body. Large quantities of each 
species should be collected, and also larve in all their stages. The eggs are also of 
very great importance. They are always laid on the hairs, and the hairs should 
be cut off with the eggs adhering to them. The parasites from each individual host 
should always be kept separate from any others, whether these are collected on 
the same species of animal or a different one, and it should be noted that as the 
parasites leave their host as soon as it gets cold, there should be no loss of time 
in examining the dead animal. Lice can frequently be collected from mammals 
in captivity in zoological gardens, especially when they are freshly captured. 
For preserving lice the following method is recommended. The parasites and 
their eggs and larve have simply to be placed in a small glass tube filled with 
alcohol. A label should then be inserted giving the name of the host, the date, 
and locality. When recording data the following points are essential :—(1) 
Exact locality and its altitude ; (2) date ; (3) the name of the host, and if this 
is unknown, a number corresponding to numbered specimens of the host ; 
(4) the age and sex of the host ; (5) condition of the host, z.c., whether weak 
or emaciated, or in good condition ; (6) position on the body of the host where 
lice were chiefly found and also position of the eggs ; (7) collector’s name. 
Il.— Biting Lice (MALLOPHAGA). 
The biting lice or MALLOPHAGA, which live on hair and feathers, are in no 
way related to the previously mentioned ANoPLURA, but are NuuROPTERA 
allied to the CoprognatHa (Psocide). They undoubtedly bear a striking 
superficial resemblance to the ANOPLURA, especially as they possess tarsi with 
strongly developed claws, and the thorax and abdomen are strongly compressed 
dorso-ventrally, but notwithstanding all these characters they are in no way 
related. 
The biting lice living on mammals (sometimes called hair lice) occur, like the 
sucking lice, on all mammals, and the eggs of these parasites, which are very 
important and have a characteristic shape for each species, should be carefully 
collected. The feather lice or biting lice found on birds cannot be combed out 
from their hosts, which is the method suggested for the previously-mentioned 
insects. These must be taken off from the host with a brush previously 
moistened with chloroform or benzine. On one species of bird quite a number of 
lice of different genera and species can often be found. The eggs of feather 
lice are generally laid on the under surface of the feathers and frequently on the 
base of the feather, and as they are usually deposited in little groups they can 
easily be cut off and preserved. Collectors should note that some species of 
MavuornHaaa, like the ANOPLURA, often leave their host as soon as it gets 
cold. The method of preservation for MALLOPHAGA is the same as that 
recommended for the ANOPLURA, 
