ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, KTC. 385 



Paramphistomidse (the only forms retaining a primitive posterior sucker). 

 Four new species of PoZystom^i are described. Among- Paramphistoniidie 

 the new genus Alassostoma is established, characterized by the presence 

 of large oral evaginations which open independently into the oral 

 sucker, an oesophageal bulb of concentric muscle lamellse, a hermaphrodite 

 duct, germ glands near the middle of the body in the median line, both 

 testes anterior to the ovary, and other genital peculiarities. Important 

 also is the new genus and species Zijijocotyle ceratom, with subterminul 

 oral sucker, the posterior sucker divided or provided with a caudal 

 overhanging lip, separate openings to the male and " female ducts, 

 and without a cirrus sac. Considerable light is thrown on the inter- 

 relationships of the families of Trematodes. J. A. T. 



New Amphistomid Trematode from a Fish. — S. CIoto and 

 Y. Matsudaira {Journ Coll. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, 1918, 39, Art. 8, 1-1'J, 

 1 pi., 2 figs.). A new parasite, Dissotrema papiUatum g. et sp. n., was 

 found in the rectum of Siganus fiiscexcens, a marine fish distributed from 

 Tokyo to the Philippines. Its appearance suggested the genus Param- 

 phistomum, but it seems to require the erection of even a new family. 

 For this the following diagnosis is given : — Digenea with more or less 

 cylindrical body ; with oral sucker close to the front end, and aceta- 

 bulum close to the hind end ; with long convoluted pre-pharynx and 

 well-developed pharynx ; ovary pre-testicular ; common genital aperture 

 ventral and median ; no buccal pouches, no ventral pouch. J. A. T. 



American Stephanophialinas. — Ernest Carroll Faust {Trans. 

 Amer. Micr. Soc, 37, 1918, 183-98, 2 pi.). In this sub-family of 

 Trematodes (in the family Allocreadiidae) the integument is usually 

 aspinose, the circumoral papilltB are always six, the yolk glands extend 

 from tlie region of the pharynx to the posterior end of the body, 

 and the excretoiy bladder extends to the anterior border of the anterior 

 testis. There are three genera, Stephanophiala, Grepidostomnm, and 

 AcroUc//an//.s, and all the species (except C. metoectis Braun) are para- 

 sites of fresh water fishes. The new species, S. vitelloba, is described. 

 No life-hisrory has been worked out, but the cercarise probably have 

 pigmented eye-spots and a heavy tail. It is probable that the cercarise 

 and preceding parasitic stages occur in water-snails, and the distomula 

 in aquatic insects or crustaceans. J. A. T. 



Reactions of Fresh-water Turbellarian. — Bbrnol R. Weimer 

 {Trans. Amer. Micr. Soc, 1918, 37, 111-24, 1 pi.). Experiments with 

 Pha/jocata gracilis show that these little animals exhibit a preference for 

 a smooth surface rather than for a rough one. That is to say, the 

 animal is positively thigmotactic to a smooth surface. This is not due 

 to varying amounts of mucous secreted. The animal is positively 

 geotropic (like unfed PJanaria macidata) and strongly negatively 

 phototropic. The rate of locomotion is the same for rough and smooth 

 surfaces. A histological study of specimens from Morgantown, W. Va., 

 showed no cilia on the dorsal surface, but Woodworth described them 

 there on specimens from New England. J. A. T. 



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