467 
more  especially  those  which  have  slight  abrasions  of  the  skin  or  small 
ulcers,  dirt,  etc.  They  are  also  easily  attracted  by  fresh  meat  and 
recently  killed  birds  and  mammals. 
Of  these  flies  there  were  at  least  two  if  not  three  species ;  and 
the  colour  pattern  as  seen  in  life  is  herein  appended. 
Large  species.  Head,  ochreous ;  eyes,  bronzy  with  green  reflec¬ 
tions  ;  large  segments  of  antenna,  ochreous ;  tip,  smoky  brown. 
Thorax,  shining  black  with  obscure  greenish  reflections  (i.e.,  bronzy 
greenish-black).  Abdomen,  above,  shining  black  to  brownish-black  ; 
broad  basal  segment  and  venter,  pale  translucent  ochreous.  Legs 
ochreous  ;  claws  dark  brown. 
Small  species  (a).  Similar  to  the  above,  but  with  the  posterior 
tibia  blackish,  with  pale  basal  and  apical  bands  and  darker  tarsi. 
Small  species  (b).  Similar  in  size  to  (a),  but  all  the  tibiae  blackish. 
A  HIPPOBOSCID  PARASITIC  ON  BIRDS 
Ornithoctona  erythrocephala^  Leach. 
One  example  of  this  interesting  though  apparently  common 
parasite  was  secured  as  it  flew  from  the  body  of  a  freshly  killed  Green 
Parroquet  (Conurus  nanus'),  at  Worthy  Park  on  January  8th.  Its 
flight  was  strong,  and  had  it  not  persisted  in  its  attacks  on  the 
writer  it  is  doubtful  if  it  would  otherwise  have  been  secured.  Another 
specimen  of  this  fly  was  also  captured  by  Mr.  W.  Maxwell  at 
Friendship  in  the  Santa  Cruz  Valley,  St.  Elizabeth,  from  the  body 
of  a  Peregrine  (Falco  peregrinus  nigriceps),  also  in  the  month  of 
January.  This  exa,mple  was  very  kindly  presented  to  the  School. 
The  colour  pattern  of  this  insect  in  life  was  noted  at  the  time ;  here 
IS  a  description  of  it  :  — 
Head,  red-brown ;  eyes,  black  ;  thorax,  black.  Legs,  femora  and 
hind  coxa,  above,  dark  vivid  green  ;  anterior  and  middle  coxae  pale 
translucent  ochreous.  Abdomen,  with  a  faint  tinge  of  vivid  green, 
most  strongly  pronounced  on  the  anal  segment.  Length,  8  mm. 
Expanse  of  wing,  21  mm. 
