334 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO A KNOWLEDGE OF AUS- 

 TRALIAN ENTOZOA. 



No. i. — On a new species op Distomum from the Platypus. 



By S. J. Johnston, B.A., Economic Zoologist, 

 Technological Museum, Sydney. 



(Plate xxii..) 



The specimens (about fifty in number) forming the material 

 for this paper were collected by Mr. J. P. Hill, B.Sc, F.L.S.^ 

 Demonstrator of Biology in the University of Sydney, and by 

 Mr. A. M. Lea. Mr. Hill's collection was obtained at the 

 Tumbledown Creek, Williams River, and at the Manning River; 

 Mr. Lea's at Little River, Dalmorton. Both collections were 

 handed over to me by Mr. Hill, whom I have to thank, also, for a 

 number of valuable preparations of the animal. The parasite 

 was found in the stomach, duodenum and the anterior part of 

 the small intestine of the Platypus {Ornithorhynchus anatinus, 

 Shaw). After careful comparison with the published descriptions 

 and figures available to me,"^ I have come to the conclusion that 

 it is a new species. 



Distomum ornithorhynchi, sp.n. 



General shape of body elongate, tapering at both ends, the 

 posterior end narrowing more gradually than the anterior; no 

 distinct neck; body somewhat flattened dorsiventrally, the sides 



* C. M. Diesing, Systema Helminthum; P. J. Van Beneden, M^moire sur 

 les Vers Intestinaux; Bronn's Klass. u. Ord.; E. Linton, "Notes on Trema- 

 tode Parasites of Fishes," Proc. U.S. National Museum, Vol. xx. ; Cobbold's 

 Entozoa; Neumann's Parasites of Domesticated Animals; G. S. West, on D. 

 philodryadum. 



