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Show 1873.] DR. T. S. COBBOLD ON NEW OR RARE ENTOZOA. 737 character; but I have felt that it were better they should be presented in this form rather than remain altogether unemployed. The Society is aware that I a m indebted to several of its Fellows, as well as to many other persons, for contributions of Entozoa; and I therefore embrace this opportunity of explaining that, it has hitherto been quite impossible for m e to do justice to these various gifts. In individual instances, as, for example, in the case of the Nematodes obtained by Frof. Flower from the Aard Wolf, I have made a single species of parasite the subject of lengthened comment (Zool. Soc. Proc. 1870); but to do so in all future and similar cases would require more undivided time and attention than is again likely to be at m y disposal; moreover, in the majority of single and separate contributions the parasite rarely demands more than a passing remark serving to confirm, to verify, or it m a y be to refute statements made in some previous record. The classification of the Entozoa is confessedly in a very unsatisfactory state; and I regret to observe that the more extended one's examinations become, the greater are the difficulties which one has to encounter in this respect. The geographical distribution of the Entozoa is a subject of increasing importance ; and it is one towards the elucidation of which I conceive that such notes as these may eventually help to contribute their quota. It would be a work of supererogation to express the sum of m y indebtedness by mentioning seriatim the names of all m y friendly contributors, most of w h om have transmitted solitary specimens. However, in the case of sets of specimens or collections, small and great, m y acknowledgments are especially due to M r . Charles Darwin, F.R.S., to M r . Charles W . Devis, to M r . Robert Swinhoe, H.M.B. Consul at Chefoo, to the late Dr. William C. Pechey, who brought me an interesting series of Helminths from India,"and to Prof. Murie, M.D., formerly Prosector to this Society. Lastly, in these prefatory remarks, it is only necessary to add further that in this serial record no particular order of description will be observed beyond that which a mere general group-affinity may occasionally suggest as natural, convenient, or suitable. 1. FILARIA HORRIDA (Diesing). The first number and private reference on the list of a series of parasites which I received from Mr. Darwin in August 1869 refers to a set of worms obtained by him " from the stomach of an American Ostrich at Bahia Blanca, North Patagonia, in 1832." Having already identified a similar series of Nematodes that had lon°- lain concealed in the M u s e u m stores of the Hunterian Collection, I had no difficulty in recognizing the species. There were, in all, ten specimens-seven females and three males. The latter were in good condition, and varied in length from 5 to 5^ inches. Five of the seven females were perfect, the shortest measuring 20 inches, and the longest 29 inches, this latter worm having a breadth of exactly g inch. I may mention that one of the Hunterian specimens measured 35 inches ; but examples have been referred to as extending PROC ZOOL. Soc-1873, No. XLVII. 47 |