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Show 1870.] DR. J. MURIE ON A NEW TAPEWORM. 609 minthology,' Dr. Spencer Cobbold says, " The larger Pachyderms and Solidungulates harbour a few adult forms ; but only the larvae appear to be known in Swine; a true Tcenia, however, has been described as occurring in the aberrant genus Hyrax." The same writer, in an examination of 122 different animals, which died in the Society's Gardens (1857-60), only came across two supposed new species of Cysticerci and a Strongylus among the Perissodactyles*. Rudolphi in his ' Synopsis,' Diesing in bis elaborate ' Systematic Treatise,' and Dujardin in his ' Hist. Nat. Helm.' make no mention of Tapeworm from Rhinoceros. When Dr. Baird published his • Catalogue of Species of Entozoa' (1853) there were comparatively few species in the series from the Ungulata ; many additions have since been made; but still in the British-Museum collection at present there is no representative of Taeniadae from the Rhinocerotidse. That gentleman, with his usual urbanity on all occasions, readily lends assistance when research in his department is sought; and I take this opportunity of thanking him for his many kindnesses. A couple of years ago some dozen joints of what I may safely term an enormous Tapeworm were placed in m y hands by Mr. Bartlett, they having been passed by the young male Rhinoceros indicus in the Gardens. I had drawings made of the most characteristic pieces thereupon, and before shrinkage ensued. These sketches are reproduced in the accompanying sketch (fig. 1). I searched carefully among the fragments, but did not discover a head. The cephalic segment (so essential for the identification of the species) being wanting, I waited, thinking, perchance, more pieces might afterwards be thrown out, and it among them. As not only a reasonable time, but a long period has now elapsed, and nothing further been obtained from the Rhinocerotes (for I understand the female when young exhibited symptoms of worms), I have less hesitation in publishing what I know (though imperfect data) than in postponing a notice until the ttenoid head is forthcoming. The largest proglottid joint among those obtained is that marked D in the woodcut; it is 1*6 inch broad and 1*1 inch long. The smallest of those figured (A) measures 0*6 across and 0*5 inch in extreme length. There was still another piece, 0*1 inch less in both dimensions; but this was put in spirits and shrunk before the drawing of the others was finished; so I have not thought proper to include it in the illustrations I now give. Its shape was similar to A; and both of these segments possibly were from the front part of the body. The sizes of different species intermediate between what I have mentioned are given in the outlines B, C, E, F. I regard the worm under consideration as belonging to the genus Tcenia, from the position of the genital apertures being lateral or maro-inal, and not mesially placed as is the case in Bothriocephalus. * " List of Entozoa," P. Z. S. 1861, p. 117, and also p. 93 (" Cystic Entozoa"); but Cobbold since acknowledges that Leuckart has corrected him on the score of specific difference of one specimen obtained. |
