BY VERA IRWIN SMITH. 



561 



ranging in age from three to four weeks, had died within a few months from an 

 unknown cause, and the symptoms described seem to point to the presence of this 

 worm. In view of the importance of the industry of squab raising, and the pos- 

 sibility of successful anti-helminthic treatment, it is desirable that all cases of the 

 occurrence of the worm should be carefully noted. In 1868 Unterberger called 

 attention to the pathological effects of the parasite, and various writers since, 



Text-figs. 1.5-19. — Ascaridia columbae. (x 38). 

 15. Posterior end of male, ventral view ; 16. Tlio same, lateral view, s., sucker; .«;>., 

 spicule; a., anus; 17. Anterior end, showing the three lips; 18. Posterior 

 end of female, a., anus; b., corpuscles in interior of body; 19. Eggs, (x 38). 



including Hautefeuille and Alessandrini, have dealt with the same subject. The 

 results of their researches, and the treatment adopted to cope with the disease, are 

 given in most modem text-books on helminth parasitology. 



It seems probable that the worm is of fairly general occurrence in pigeons, 

 but only occasionally in such numbers as to give rise to morbid conditions. Early 

 helminthologists, descriliing this Nematode, make no mention of any disease caused 

 by it. ^ 



Some measurements of the specimens found here are : — 



Males, 29 to 31 mm. long. Females, 31 to 37 mm. Maximum diameter, 1.3 

 to 1.6 mm. Diameter at base of lips 0.22 to 0.32 mm. Anus in female 1.20 

 mm. from tip of tail, in male 0.40 to 0.51 mm. Preanal sucker 0.20 by 0.16 

 mm. Spicules 1.7 to 1.9 mm. long. Eggs 0.048 by 0.072 mm. The number 

 and arrangement of the papillae on the male tail are shown in Text-figs. 15 and 

 16. The characteristic, large "orbicular corpuscles" in the interior of the female 

 body, mentioned by Dujardin. from which the specific name maculosa was derived, 

 are very noticeable (Text-fig. 18 b) . 



Literature. 



1907. Alessakdrixi. — Sopra una epizoozia nei piccioni da Heterakis maculosa. 



Ann. Igieue Soma, n.s. xvii., pp. 323-329, 1 tav. 

 1845. Bellingham, O. — Catalogue of Irish Entozoa, with obser%'ations. Ann. 



Mag. Nat. Hixt.. xiii.. pp. 101-105, 167-174. 



