889 complete alimentary tracts were examined for helminths during a two-year survey of sheep and goats in Cyprus. Faecal samples were also examined for worm eggs.

The most common parasites found were Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus spp. and a list of all the parasites and their prevalence is given.

Bunostomum trigonoceplialum, Parabronema skrjabini and Skrjabinema ovis were found for the first time in Cyprus.

The infection rate of each of the worms was studied and the results showed that most of the worms followed the same general pattern, having a peak in the spring and another in the autumn, separated by a trough during the hot dry summer period, when the infection rate yvas low. There were variations within this pattern, Trichostrongylus spp. having a spring peak that was more pronounced than the autumn peak. The reverse occurred with Ostertagia, Chabertia and Oesophagostomum spp., which had a more pronounced autumn peak than spring peak and a lower rate of infection in the summer.

Variations in the infection rate were also noted between the two years of study.

The reasons for these variations are discussed and it appears that weather has some influence on the timing and duration of the peaks but that other factors must also be involved. It is suggested that with some species inhibition of development of the immature stages may occur over the hot dry period, and that these immature worms resume their development towards the end of summer.

A similarity was noticed between the seasonal distribution of the different worm species in Cyprus and in the winter rainfall areas of Australia.

889 alimentary tracts from sheep and goats were examined for worms during 1970 and 1971.

The severity of infection with each of the worm species is discussed and it is concluded that infections with Ostertagia spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. are the most important and that Haemonchus contortus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum and Chabertia ovina are of secondary importance.

The animals were divided into different age groups and a study was made of the severity of mixed infections in each group. The point system adopted by Parnell et al. (1954) was used for the study.

The most unexpected finding was that lambs and kids under 8 months old rarely suffered from infections of any significance. Infections built up slowly after that age. It was therefore presumed that animals remained vulnerable to infections at a much later age than in other countries.

Infections that might cause sub-clinical disease were seen in 31% of all animals and heavier infections were seen in 20% of the animals. This was considered a conservative estimate and shows the importance of gastro-intestinal parasites in sheep and goats in Cyprus.

Adult sheep appeared to be more heavily infected than goats, although some differences in animal husbandry between the two may have contributed to this.

From this study of age distribution, it was found that the autumn peak in the infection rate was not caused by the infection of young animals, which remained low at this time of the year.

1. The number and duration of free-living and parasitic stages of N. dubius has been determined.

2. The results have been discussed in relation to previous accounts of the life cycle, and some of the discrepancies explained.

The presence of Aspidogaster conchicola in the Netherlands has not been previously reported.

Regarding the relationship between the parasite and its host, the following observations have been made:

1. Infection of a new host with embryonated eggs of Aspidogaster conchicola gave positive results. A possible mode of infection via the nephridiopore is suggested.

2. The larvae apparently remain in the renal cavities of the host until they mature, when they move into the pericardium.

3. The larvae's development to maturity took at least three months at an average temperature of 18°C.

4. Visible damage to the host is confined to a deformation of the epithelium where the haptor (ventral sucker) is attached.

A study of the intestines of 208 carnivores (red fox, wolf and cat) from three different regions of Azerbaijan, Iran, revealed 10 species of cestodes: Taenia polyacantha, Taenia endothoracica, Echinococcus tnultilocularis, Joyeuxiella echinorhynchoides and Mesocestoides lineatus were found in Vulpes vulpes; Taenia multiceps, Taenia hydatigena, Echinococcus granulosus and Dipylidium caninum in Canis lupus; Taenia taeniaeformis in Felis sp.

In the article by MACNAE, W. D., ROCK, L. and MAKOWSKI, M. “Platyhelminths from the South African Clawed Toad, or Platanna (Xenopus laevis)” which appeared in Volume 47, Part 2, pages 199-235, errors occurred in the labelling of the figures.

Fig. 3. Should be Xenopodistomum xenopodis not pleurogenes.

Fig. 4. Should be Pleurogenes cystolobatus not Halipegus.

Fig. 5. Should be Halipegus rodhaini not Oligolecithus.

Fig. 6. Should be Oligolecithus elianae not Xenopodistomum.

5 males and 5 females of this species were collected from the intestine of the giant African rat Cricelomys gambianus from Minaki Secondary School, near Pugu, Tanzania. Some of the specimens have parts of the host's intestinal wall tissues in their buccal capsules and some specimens have the anterior part of the intestine dark in colour. This may suggest that these nematodes attach themselves to their host's intestinal wall and probably feed on its blood.

The elongated body is cylindrical, tapering at both ends, the anterior end recurved dorsally. The cuticle is transversely striated and the buccal aperture is round, lacking a radial crown but the cuticle of the external surface of the buccal capsule forms several annular thickenings around the buccal aperture. There are 4 main external cuticular bands extending to near the buccal aperture. The buccal capsule is funnel-shaped with extremely thick and highly chitinized walls, the dorsal wall notably shorter than the ventral. The thickness of the walls is uneven, with maximum thickness posteriorly. The capsule lacks teeth and the dorsal oesophageal gland terminates near the anterior edge of the buccal capsule. The oesophageal funnel is chitinized. The oesophagus is claviform owith a wider posterior part and ends in a triradiate valve.

Anatrichosovta rhina sp. n. and Anatrichosoma nacepobi sp. n. from the mucosa of the nasal vestibule of Indian Macaca mulatta are described. Incidence of Anatrichosoma spp. infection of Old World primates ranged from less than 1% to 5% by faecal examination and from 17% to 50% by worm recovery at necropsy. Attempts at experimental infection were unsuccessful.

Bigalkenema curvispiculum sp. nov. is described from specimens collected from the abomasa of Aepyceros melampus, Damaliscus korrigum, Connochaetes taurinus, Gazella granti and G. thomsonii in Serengeti, Tanzania and Gazella thomsonii in Kenya. It differs from the other species of the genus in the shape and appearance of the spicules, their distinct branching, and the inward curving of the two main divisions of the dorsal ray.

The female of Kobusinema banagiense is redescribed and this species is reported for the first time from Alcelaphns bnselaphus jacksoni in Uganda.

Twelve species of digenetic trematodes are reported from birds from North Borneo (Malaysia). A new genus and species described is Transversohelmins borneoensis (Heterophyidae) from Charadrius leschenaultii. Three new species described are Echinoparyphium borneoense (Echinostomatidae) from Amaurornis phoenicurus, Episthmium borneoense (Echinostomatidae) from Alcedo menil:ting verreauxii, and Posthovitellum sabahense (Eumegacetidae) from Rhipidura javanica longicauda. Papillatrema sp. (Eumegacetidae) from Apus apus affinis subfurcatus is described and figured, but is not allocated to species as the specimen is immature. Previously described species reported are: Mesostephanus haliasturus Tubarigui and Masiluñgan, 1941 (Cyathocotylidae) from Haliastur indus intermedius; Acanthoparyphium ochthodromi Tubangui,1933 (Echinostomatidae) from Charadrius leschenaultii; Tanaisia (Tanaisia) fedtschenkoi Skrjabin, 1924 (Eucotylidae) from Aegithina tiphia aequanimis; T. (Tamerlania) zarudnyi Skrjabin, 1924, from Pycnonotus zeylanicus, Anthreptes malacensis borneoensis, and Argusianus argus grayi; Haplorchis taichui (Nishigori, 1924) Witenberg, 1930 (Heterophyidae) from Haliastur indus intermedius and Ketupa ketupa keptupa; Pygidiopsis marivillai Refuerzo and Garcia, 1937 (Heterophyidae) from Butorides striatus; Plagiorchis maculosus (Rudolphi, 1802) Braun, 1901 (Plagiorchiidae) from Hirundo rustica gutteralis.

1. Ninety-six lesser black-backed gulls, Larus fuscus L., captured at about 6 weeks of age, were kept in captivity for up to 2⅛ years. At intervals some gulls were killed and examined for helminth parasites, of which 14 species were found comprising 4 species of Trematoda, 5 species of Cestoda and 5 species of Nematoda.

2. Nine of the 14 species are commonly found in Holarctic gulls and may be regarded as characteristic members of the helminth fauna of these birds. Six species are recorded from L. fuscus for the first time.

3. The life span of different species of helminth parasites in L. fuscus varied from 2 months to 2⅛ years; few specimens lived in their host for more than one year. During captivity there was a marked decline in the variety of the helminth fauna of individual gulls, as well as a general decline in the incidence and intensity of infection with individual species of parasites. There was one exception, the tape-worm Tetrabothrius cylindraceus, which increased in incidence and maintained a fairly even intensity of infection in L. fuscus over 21 months. The results are discussed in relation to the ecology of the parasite and the host.