DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FLEA — SKUSE. 
77 
DESCRIPTION of a NEW FLEA ( STEPEANOGIRCUS 
DASYUEI) from NEW SOUTH WALES; with NOTES 
of some otiier INSECT PARASITES known in 
AUSTRALIA. 
By Frederick A. A. Skuse, Assistant in Entomology. 
[Plate XVII.] 
The specimens from which the appended description has been 
derived were obtained in numbers by my colleague, Mr. Edgar R. 
Waite, and myself whilst searching for Ixodes on the body of the 
Australian Tiger Cat, Dasyurus maculatus , Kerr. 
It must not be entertained that the writer is impetuous to 
describe isolated species, or is an advocate of the only too prevalent 
practice. The reason for now so doing is certainly in part excusable, 
owing to the distinctive character of the insect under notice, but 
it is more especially done with the view of soliciting authentic 
specimens of the cutaneous Insect, Arachnid and Arachnoid 
parasites infesting our native Vertebrates, the majority of which 
will doubtless prove to be plagued with their own peculiar forms. 
Very few records appear to have been made of the external 
parasites of Australian animals, and few of these with reference 
to their respective hosts. With the view of collecting specimens, 
it might be pointed out to those in the bush districts having the 
opportunity, that they may be sought with success upon any 
animal. Even the fleas themselves have other “fleas” to bite 
them. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, all have 
parasites infesting their skin — in most cases species peculiar to 
themselves; in many, several distinct forms, each of which usually 
occupies some particular portion of the surface of the body. 
These pests are by no means confined to insect representatives ; 
indeed the majority belong to the Arachnida. Various species of 
flies deposit their eggs in the skins of both warm- and cold-blooded 
Vertebrates, some permanently residing under the hair or feathers 
in their perfect condition, and gorging themselves with the blood of 
their victims. Many varieties of fleas ( Aphaniptera) have been 
recorded, most of which, under ordinary circumstances, are peculiar 
to some particular beast or bird. Bugs and lice, of which numerous 
undescribed forms doubtless exist on our native animals, may be 
readily collected. Of Arachnids, it is scarcely necessary to direct 
attention to the ticks, a species of which, Ixodes hydrosauri , Denny, 
occurs upon one of our large lizards. There are also many kinds 
of minute eight-legged mites, which feed upon various animals, 
