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Show 18/6.] DR. T. S. COBBOLD ON ENTOZOA. 201 abroad. Although it so happens that comparatively few of the parasites are altogether new to science, yet most of the contributions present, in one way or another, points of interest. I propose in future to extend the character of my notes, not only recording new habitats and describing new species, but also paying regard to all facts tending to throw light upon the question of geographical distribution. 1 wish also to remark more fully on structural and morphological peculiarities, especially when dealing with aberrant types. The importance of certain species in relation to epidemics will also receive attention. None can regret more than myself the necessarily incomplete character of these records. It is evident, however, that if we home-naturalists defer all public notice of the receipt of specimens from co-workers abroad until we happen to have time at our command to do full justice to the contributions, a multitude of useful facts will inevitably be lost to science. In this connexion I may likewise observe that the mere verification of already known phenomena, especially in the matter of distribution, is not without its cumulative value. 8. FILARIA TEREBRA (Diesing). On the 27th of February, 1875, Dr. Edward L. Moss, of H.M.S. 'Alert,' now engaged in the Arctic Expedition, brought me three examples of a nematode, which I have little hesitation in referring to this species. Dr. Moss obtained these parasites in 1874, during the time that he had charge of the Naval Hospital at Esquimalt, Vancouver's Island, British Columbia. They occupied the abdominal cavity of the Black-tailed Deer (Cervus columbianus). The worms (usually one, but occasionally two, being present in each cervine bearer) were commonly found lying amongst the coils of the small intestine. They had not in any way attached themselves to the peritoneal membrane. I understood Dr. Moss to say, in conversation, that he had shot seventeen deer in all, the males and females being in about equal proportion; nevertheless not one of the bucks examined by him showed any trace of the presence of these entozoa. This absence of parasites in the male hosts can hardly, I should think, have been otherwise than accidental. Hitherto the worm appears to have been observed in the Red Deer (O. elaphus) and in three species of American Roe (C. rufus, C. simplicicornis, and C. nambi) by Natterer. Two of the worms measured each about 2\ inches in length, the third exceeding 3 inches. The head of one was injured ; but the other two displayed in profile two prominent oral papillae. Probably there were four of these processes, such as Dujardin described in his Filaria cervina, which, according to Diesing, is a synonym of this species. The body is marked throughout its entire length by a series of prominent and regular folds, these, in some situations, becoming so conspicuous that, under an ordinary pocket-lens, they present a beaded appearance. All the specimens had their attenuated tails more or less spirally twisted ; and a single brown-coloured line occupied the whole length of the body. The precise relations |
