469 
CHIGGOE  FLEA 
Der7r,alo-philiis  (Sarcopsylla)  penetrans 
vSaid  to  be  common  and  generally  distributed  over  the  whole  of 
the  Island  ;  but  this  requires  confirmation.  It  was  certainly  a  serious 
pest  in  certain  portions  of  St.  Catherine,  Manchester  and  St, 
Elizabeth.  It  is  not  only  parasitic  on  man,  but  is  commonly  met  with 
also  on  pigs,  confining  its  attacks  chiefly  to  the  feet  between  and 
immediately  above  the  hoofs  of  the  animal  (PI.  XV,  fig.  2).  Pigs 
are  most  subject  to  the  attacks  of  the  Chiggoe  when  they  have 
free  access  to  dry  sheltered  places  in  sheds  or  beneath  the  native 
huts,  especially  where  the  floor  or  ground  is  covered  with  a  thick 
layer  of  dust  and  dirt.  Pigs  which  have  their  feet  more  or  less 
constantly  in  wet  litter  or  mud  do  not  apparently  get  infested. 
The  local  remedy  is  to  paint  the  infested  parts  with  Jeyes’  fluid, 
undiluted.  Man  sometimes  also  employs  the  same  means  for 
destroying  the  parasite.  As  a  measure  of  prevention,  pigs  should 
certainly  not  be  allowed  to  harbour  beneath  or  near  the  native  huts  ; 
but  it  would  be  difficult  to  adopt  even  so  small  a  precaution  owing 
to  the  indolence  of  the  natives,  who,  it  would  seem,  would  rather 
stay  at  home,  when  the  occasion  serves,  paint  their  feet  with  Jeyes’ 
and  make  a  holiday  of  the  event ! 
ANTHRAX  LUCIFER 
This  conspicuous  and  rather  handsome  fly  with  a  streak  of 
brownish-orange  on  its  wings  was  frequently  seen  associated  with 
butterflies,  frequenting  wet  mud  at  the  margins  of  wayside  pools,  in 
the  beginning  of  December.  .It  generally  occurred  singly,  but  was 
swift  of  wing,  dashing  away  from  its  haunts  with  lightning  rapidity, 
so  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  examples  were  captured.  It  may 
be  of  some  economic  importance,  as  are  other  members  of  the 
Bombiliidae,  in  that  the  larvae  of  certain  species  are  known  to  devour 
the  eggs  of  locusts.  This  is  not  a  blood-sucking  insect,  and  does  not, 
therefore,  come  strictly  within  the  pale  of  this  Report.  Its  striking- 
similarity  to  a  Tabanid  of  the  genus  Haemaiopota,  when  on  flight, 
was  so  marked  as  to  completely  deceive  the  writer  on  more  than  one 
occasion.  For  this  reason  alone  has  it  been  thought  desirable  to 
make  this  record. 
GG 
