At the post mortem examination of a Saddle-billed Stork which died at the London Zoological Gardens, filarial worms were found in the heart and pulmonary artery. These parasites were forwarded for identification to Prof. R. T. Leiper, to whom I am indebted for the opportunity of examining and reporting upon the filariid and for assistance regarding the relevant literature.

1. Raillietina cesticillus, Amoebotaenia cuneata and Harmostomum commutatum are recorded from Perdix perdix for the first time.

2. Some remarks are made on the factors influencing infestation with T. tennis, Choanotaenia infundibulum and Hymenolepis phasianina in the partridge and Hymenolepis microps and Davainea urogalli in the grouse.

In an article on “The Longevity of Diphyllobothrium latum” published in 1935 in the “Recueil des Travaux dédié au 25-me Anniversaire Scientifique du Professeur Eugène Paviosky 1909−1934”, it is suggested that present day conceptions regarding the longevity of this parasite are erroneous and that multiple successive infections are frequently attributed to a single long-lived specimen. Ward gives a detailed review and analysis of the evidence hitherto published both in general works and special monographs and cites as specially important the history of the occurrence of this species on the North American continent. He points out that the age of the parasite is regularly based on the statement that the host had not been in an infected region for the period indicated. To this statement, Ward puts forward the objections that the distribution of the parasite and the natural occurrence of plerocercoid carrying fish are far more extensive than was formerly suspected and, further, that infected fish are distributed commercially as food to regions far outside their natural area of distribution. He also refers to certain records which seem to indicate that there is a “period of inactivity” during the adult life of the parasite and suggests that its alleged occurrence throws doubt upon the supposed longevity of the parasite. In support of this contention, he cites, as a typical instance, a case of human infection with Diphyllobothrium latum reported by me (Leiper, 1928) as a “cryptic infection”; regarding which he erroneously states that I believed was “latent” for 5 years.

The formation of the family Ommatobrephidæ for Ommatobrephus Nicoll has been accepted.

With the help of the material from Zamenis mucosus the species O. folium Thapar & Ali has been shown to be a synonym of O. lobatum Mehra. The descriptions of this species given by Mehra and Thapar & Ali have been critically reviewed. Measurements of the material of O. lobatum at the writer's disposal have been given.

Acanthostomum burminis (Bhalerao) from Tropidonotus piscator in Nagpur has been recorded.

The synonymy of Lepodermatidæ Odhner with Plagiorchidæ Lühe has been discussed and the latter name has been accepted in preference to the former.

The family status of Cephalogonimidæ has not been agreed upon, but Cephalogoniminæ as a subfamily of Plagiorchidæ has been accepted.

Variations occurring in Cephalogonimus amphiumœ obtained from Lissemys punctata in Nagpur have been noted and the species C. gangeticus Pande and C. magnus Sinha have been shown to be its synonyms. A review of the various species of Cephalogonimus recorded up to the present moment has been made. Measurements of the writer's specimens of C. amphiumœ have been given.

The new species, Styphlodora nicolli, from the intestine of Zamenis mucosus has been described and separated from the allied species of the genus. A key to the existing species of Styphlodora has been given.

Encyclometra colubrimurorum (Rud.) has been recorded from Zamenis mucosus in Calcutta.

Tremiorchis ranarum Mehra & Negi has been recorded from Rana tigrina in Karnal. The synonymy of Centrovitus pentadelphi Bhalerao with the former species has been pointed out.

An adult specimen of Astiotrema loossi Mehra obtained from Lissemys punctata has been described and many differences existing between it and the immature specimen described by Mehra have been pointed out. The species A. gangeticus has been shown to be a synonym of A. loossi.

The new species, Astiotretna rami, has been described and separated from the allied species. A review of the existing species of Astiotrema has been made and a key to them has been given. A. odhneri n.sp. is proposed to replace A. reniferum of Odhner, 1911.

The material forming the basis of the following account was collected from a ruby-crested humming bird, Chrysolampis mosquitus, a native of Brazil. This bird died in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London and the parasites were forwarded for identification to Dr. R. T. Leiper, F.R.S., of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Considerable work has been done in Germany in recent years on the use of bleaching powder in controlling the sugar-beet strain of the nematode Heterodera schachtii. Laboratory work with a view to discovering the manner in which the chemical affects the nematode has been carried on extensively for some years by Molz, who concludes that the nematodes are stimulated to hatch by the supply of an abundance of oxygen, and are furthermore thigmotactically attracted and killed, so that, in the absence of suitable host plants, a large proportion of the nematode population may be destroyed.

In the case of the species Pleurogenes gastroporus observations are recorded in regard to the excretory pore, the position of the receptaculum seminis and the shell gland and the relative size of the suckers. The tendency to form new subspecies is deprecated.

The new species Ganeo korkei has been described and separated from the allied species. Its specific diagnosis has been given.

Ganeo tigrinum has been recorded from Rana tigrina in Nagpur.

In the case of Mehraorchis ranarum observations have been recorded with regard to the position of mouth and oral sucker, prepharynx, pharynx, in stinal fork, testes, ovary, receptaculum seminis, uterus and the excretory bladder. Measurements of the material from Nagpur have been given.

The new species Prosthodendrium pushpai has been described and separated from the allied species.

The formation of the new genus Prosthodendrium Dollfus, 1931 for the species having vitellaria anterior to testes and retention of Lecithodendrium for those having vitellaria posterior to testes has been approved of. The genera Mesodendrium and Acanthatrium have been considered to be synonyms of Lecithodendrium and Prosthodendrium respectively. Reasons for so doing have been given.

A key to the species of the genus Prosthodendrium has been given.

The species P. cordiforme from Nyctinomus plicatus in Rangoon and P. ovimagnosum from Nycticejus pallidus in the Punjab have been recorded.

The species Opisthorchis noverca from the wild dog, Cyon dukhunensis, in Calcutta has been studied and found to possess a prepharynx and no spines on the cuticle. Typical Opisthorchis noverca from a dog in the Punjab has been recorded.

Echinochasmus perfoliatus from cats in Calcutta and Muktesar has been recorded.

The non-tuberculate variety of Schistosoma spindalis has been recorded from a calf in Coorg.

Halipegus mehransis has been recorded from Rana tigrina in Nagpur and in view of the variations occurring in this species the variety minutum has been abolished.

Halipegus sp. has been recorded from the intestine of Rana tigrina in Nagpur.

A critical review is given of the various species of Haplorchis (Heterophyidæ) recorded so far. The species H. taichui from cats in Calcutta and Muktesar has been recorded and measurements of a few of its organs given.

History of the discovery of Isoparorchis hypselobagri is given and a few more hosts harbouring the larval forms are recorded.

In a collection of nematodes received from the Institute of Plant Diseases, Buitenzorg, Java, there were three tubes containing eelworms from pepper gardens on the island of Bangka, Dutch East Indies, where disease of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) caused by the “burrowing” nematode, Anguillulina similis, is particularly severe. In one of these tubes were worms which had been collected by Dr. J. van der Vecht from diseased pepper roots grown in a garden at Mabat Oerit, Bangka. Among these were large numbers of Anguillulina similis, many Cephalobus striatus, one Aphelenchus avenae, a few Dorylaimus sp. and 30 representatives of the worm which forms the subject of this note. On being cleared and mounted in glycerine it was seen that the buccal spear in all cases was extraordinarily long and closely resembled that figured by Cobb (1913) in Xiphinema americanum from which it was concluded that the worms might possibly belong to the genus Xiphinema. A question which exercised the writer for some time was whether, following Micoletzky (1921), the genus Xiphinema Cobb, 1913 should be considered as synonymous with Tylencholaimus de Man, 1876.

During the examination of a large number of nematodes collected by the writer in 1931 from the duodenum of a male eland (Taurotragus oryx) shot in the Nega Nega Hills, north-east of Mazabuka, three (two males and one female) specimens of a rather small species of Trichostrongylid were recovered. As the species could not be assigned to any of the known genera of bursate nematodes the new genus Minutostrongylus is founded for the reception of this species which is named Minutostrongylus taurotragi g. et sp. n.

Beef measles is prevalent in many parts of the world. The two most important factors which allow the dissemination of the disease are, firstly, the insanitary methods of the disposal of human excreta, and secondly, the habit of eating beef raw or almost raw. To eradicate beef measles and Taenia saginata from a country where the inhabitants are eaters of raw beef, would be a costly and difficult undertaking. The fact that Taenia saginata infestation of man is a comparatively trivial disease and, therefore, does not induce many infested persons to seek treatment, is another difficulty in preventing its dissemination. Of 90 cases that came to our notice, 65 did so in reply to an offer of £5 reward for a complete tapeworm (1), and, although the average duration of infestation of these cases was 13 years, many had never previously sought treatment. We consider there are two main methods of preventing bovine cysticercosis. The first is to immunize the cattle against the disease, and the second is to prevent cattle from having access to Taenia saginata eggs. With regard to the second method, if means are undertaken to prevent Taenia saginaia ova from gaining access to a pasture previously contaminated with them, the problem still remains of getting rid of the ova which are already present. This paper considers the latter problem, and is specially applicable to farms irrigated with human sewage. It has been suggested that pastures may be ridded of Taenia saginata eggs by grazing sheep.

The question of the immunity of the pig to ascariasis has been considered by helminthologists for some years and is still a vexed question. Ransom (1922) was of the opinion that the pig became immune at the age of 4 months but this was refuted by Morgan of the Institute of Agricultural Parasitology who, in 1931 successfully infected pigs at the age of 10 months and by the present writer (1934) at the age of a year. Sandground in 1929 referred to the difficulty of establishing infections under normal conditions though it is well known that almost every pig under field conditions picks up an infection at an early age. Furthermore, it is notoriously difficult to keep pigs “clean” for experimentation though this can be done, as it is done here, by careful attention to detail during rearing.

Experiments in vivo and in vitro are reported on the action of digestive juices of various animals on the scolices of E. granulosus. In in vitro studies, scolices of E. granulosus were placed in the digestive juices of different animals, incubated at 37°C., and the digestive action of the fluids was studied by examining portions of the material under the microscope. In vivo experiments were carried out on kittens, rats and rabbits. These animals were fed large quantities of scolices of hydatid cyst membranes and they were killed at definite time intervals and their intestinal tract was carefully examined for scolices.

Gastric juice of rats, dogs, cats, sheep and cattle did not digest scolices. The action of the gastric juice of rabbits begins late and proceeds slowly. Human gastric juice causes incomplete digestion and acts only on the evaginated scolices.

The intestinal juices of man, rats, rabbits, sheep and cattle are able to digest scolices completely, whereas the intestinal juice of dogs and cats is inactive. In spite of the fact that cat intestinal juice is inactive, kittens are found to be slightly susceptible. Since they suffer only relatively light infestation and the rate of development is retarded, we would classify the cat as an “abnormal” host to E. granulosus.

Time of evagination of scolices from a single cyst or from cysts from different animals is variable. Some scolices evaginate readily, others more slowly and still others fail to evaginate completely.

Two new species of Avitellina, A. woodlandi and A. tatia, have been described and separated from the allied species of the genus. Both these species are remarkable for having cirrus sac longer than vulva.

Additional data are provided in regard to the structure of the species A. sudanea, A. lahorea and A. chalmersi.

The development of the female genitalia of A. chalmersi, which may be regarded as typical of the genus, has been given in detail for the first time.

New observations on the development of the inner column of testes in A. sudanea are made.

A review of the existing species of Avitellina has been taken and a key to all the known species of the genus has been given.

The sudden occurrence of severe attacks of A. dipsaci on cultivated plants has never been completely explained. Goodey (1933 and 1936) has summarised the information on the subject of seed-borne infection by means of the seeds of cultivated and wild hosts. The same writer also suggests that weeds may play an important rôle in maintaining an active eelworm infestation in the soil by acting as hosts for strains of the eelworm capable of producing diseased conditions in cultivated crops.

It has been known for a number of years that potatoes, besides many other cultivated plants and weeds, are subject to attack from the eelworm, Anguillulina dipsaci.

The list of recorded hosts of A. dipsaci given by Goodey (1929 and 1933) includes rhubarb, and records and observations in Yorkshire show that infestation by this eelworm is widespread in the rhubarb-growing districts of the county. It is important, at the outset, to note that as far as the writer's observations are concerned the eelworm invariably occurs in rhubarb plants suffering from a disease well-known among growers as Rhubarb Disease or Crown Rot. The following account must therefore include recurring references to this disease with which the eelworm appears to have an intimate association. The earliest records with regard to the disease appeared in the Journal of the Northern Horticultural Society but as this Society has been discontinued a brief summary of these records is given. In the February 1913 issue of this Journal, Hector and Taylor (1913) summarised various notes on the disease. They referred to an editorial in “The Fruit Grower” (9th January, 1913) concerning examination of diseased rhubarb roots received from Yorkshire in 1909 and again in 1913.

The material of Eurytrema pancreaticum from Hyderabad (Deccan) was examined and found to agree with the material of this species from China and Japan, described by Looss (1907) except in the case of cirrus sac which terminates anterior to ventral sucker.

Numerous specimens of the variety of E. pancreaticum with deeply lobed testes from the pancreatic ducts of a cow in Bengal were examined and it is found that the smaller and the larger forms belong to the same species. Variations occurring in several organs of this variety have been recorded.

A discussion on the existing species of Eurytrema has been evoked and these have been grouped under five subgenera, four of which being new ones.

The species E. ovis, E. robustum and E. cuyabai are considered to be synonyms of E. pancreaticum, E. lubens and E. intermedium respectively.

The species E. parvum Travassos, 1916 being a homonym the name E. travassosi has been suggested for it.

Paradistomum moghei n.sp. has been described and separated from the existing species of Paradistomum.

Mesoccelium leiperi n.sp. has been described and separated from the existing species of Mesocalium.

Mesoccelium sociale has been recorded from Rana tigrina and measurements of some of its organs are given.

An account is given of the incidence of the abomasal parasites in the lambs of South-West Britain. Some 600 lambs were examined, and counts of the parasites were conducted in 100 cases.

It is suggested that to explain the constancy of infection with Ostertagia, and the great difference between these “healthy figures” and the pathogenic figures (10,000) of other authors, it is necessary to assume a resistance to the accumulation of the parasite present within the sheep.