BY T. HARVEY JOHNSTON. 67 



The ripe segments of this parasite are capable of movement, as 

 T have seen them creeping about in the intestine of a Ijird which 

 had just been shot. The progression, viewed with the naked eye, 

 a[)pcared to be the result of peristaltic muscular action. Several 

 ripe proglottids showed the presence of a considerable thickening, 

 due to muscular activity at the posterior end. This may be con- 

 necterl with the movement of such segments, or it may serve the 

 purpose of throwing off the succeeding ripe segment while both 

 are connected with the parent strobila. 



Systematic rosition. — As mentioned above, the four 

 species of birds in which this cestode has been found, all 

 belong to a peculiarly Australian Order, the MeIi2)hayidcE or 

 "Honey-eaters." No parasites, excepting Hsemoprotozoa* 

 and Filarkej had been recorded as occurring in members of 

 this family, until li mentioned the presence of these 

 cestodes under the name of Choanotcenia sp. ; though, at the 

 same time, certain differences between this tapeworm and 

 typical members of that genus were noted. A more detailed 

 study of the worm has emphasised the importance of these 

 differences. 



The genus Choanotcenia was founded by Railliet, in 1896, 

 with Tcenia infundihuluni Bloch (syn. T. infundibulifoi-niis 

 Goeze) as its type-species. The diagnosis given by Prof. 

 Fuhrmannjl, in a recent work, is as follows: — Scolex small, 

 rostellum bearing a single circlet of hooks ; strobila consisting 

 of many segments, the last often longer than broad ; genital 



* Cleland, J. B., and Johnston, T. H., "Description of New Ha;mo- 

 piotozoa from Australian Birds," Journ. Proc. Roy. Soc. N. S. \\'ales, 

 xliii., 1909, pp. 75-96; Id., " The Hajniatozoa of Australian Birds," Trans. 

 Roy. .Soc. South Australia, x.x.xiv., 1910, pp. 100-114. 



Juhnston, T. H., " On Austialian Avian Entozoa,'' Journ. Proc. Roy. 

 Soc. N. S. Wales, xliv., 1910, pp. 100-112. 



t Bancroft, T. L., Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, vi., 1889, pp.58-6'2. 

 Johnston, T. H., I.e., xliv., 1910, pp.llO-I12. 



+ Jolinston, T. H., I.e., xliv., 1910, pp.llO-Ill. 



II Fuliiinaiin, O. , " DieCestoden der Vogel,'" Zool. Jalirb. Suppl Bd., x. 

 Heft 1, 1908. p. 54. 



