T. W. Kirk. — On Ixodes maskellii. 66 



thick part, which terminates abruptly, spring two limbs, each 

 2^ inches in length, and of an average diameter of ^th inch. 

 These appendages make the animal look most grotesque. At 

 first sight, these limbs look as though two worms of smaller 

 circumference were grafted on to an abnormally short and thick 

 individual. At thnes they trail behind like two tails, or are 

 gathered up, sometimes together, sometimes one is moved first, 

 the body pushed slightly forward with that, then the other is 

 used, and so on alternately. The anal aperture is situate 

 immediately at the posterior end of the thick portion, and 

 between these two limbs or tails. There is no aperture in the 

 end of either limb, though there is a spot which at first sight 

 gives the impression that an opening is present. 



I have not yet examined it very critically, lest it should 

 sustain damage and die before I was able to exhibit it to this 

 meeting. 



It is a species of Acmithodrilis ; but the question arises : Is 

 it only an abnormal form, or are they tolerably common ? 

 Probably they are far from rare, as Mr, Marshall, in forwarding 

 it, says : " I send you one of those two-tailed bush-worms I 

 spoke to you about ;" thus implying that he hal seen others. 

 He has been asked to endeavour to procure more specimens, 

 and to send any information in his possession regarding their 

 habits, abundance, etc. Till this information is received I prefer 

 to suspend further decision as to its specific value. 



This note was written for a meeting called in October, and 

 which lapsed for want of a quorum. The worm has since died ; 

 but, as no other specimens have yet been received, I hesitate to 

 dissect this one, and until that is done I feel that the examina- 

 tion is necessarily incomplete. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VIb. 



Fig. a. Double worm [Acanthodrilis), seen from above. 

 Fig. h. „ ,, seen from below. 



Art. VII. — Ofi Ixodes maskellii, a Parasite of the Albatross 



(Diomedea exulans). 



By T. W. Kirk. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, I'jth January, 1886.] 



I HAD intended in this short paper to include a number of 

 species of parasitic insects lately obtamed from young speci- 

 mens of the Pencilled Albatross; but as I have been unable 

 yet to identify several specimens, in consequence of th 



5 



