814 L.tnrjL ckstode parasites of fishes— ltxtox. 



scoleces are available, I do not feel justified in referring tliem to differ- 

 ent species. 



The description of this s])ecies given by Diesing" is: 



Head oblong, cylindrical, violaceous, with four narrow oblong bothria 

 imniorsed in the head, transversely rugose. Proboscides very slender 

 and short. Xeck cylindrical. Dody very short, articulated, posteriorly 

 rounded. Genital aperture in median furrow of body. 



I must confess to no small degree of difficulty in the classification of 

 these forms, the descriptions of T. ru<josum ' and T. hicolor api)lying 

 equally well. Besides, there is a great diversity of form in the scoleces 

 themselves, so that the difficulty of classification is not lessened by 

 referring them to different species. 



The specimens from Corypluvna hippurua were found, some encysted 

 and some free, in the peritoneum and mesenterj' of their host. T have 

 no mention of color in my notes made at the time of collection. My 

 recollection is that they Avere the ordinary yellowish white, so comniou 

 among allied forms. The arrangement of the hooks on the proboscides 

 agrees with that shown in figures from Carcharlas: About seven hooks 

 visible in a si)iral on one side near middle of proboscis, about six near 

 apex, and about eight near base, while at the base are the characteris- 

 tic uncinate ]dates shown in the sketch; length of proboscis, about 

 1 mm. The alcoholic specimens vary.in length from 4 to 8 mm., and in 

 shape from ovate to oblong-linear, according to stat* of contractiou; 

 usually corrugated, though not always, some of the smaller nearly 

 smooth. The larger specimens show distinct bothria. 



In the specimens iov Xiphias (jUulius, the proboscides, while relatively 

 more slender than iu those from Coryphiena, the arrangement aud 

 character of the hooks appear to be identical. The bothria are very 

 iiulistinct, elongated, narrow, parallel, giving to the larva a striated 

 appearance. Dimensions of one alcoholic specimen: Length, 6 mm. ; 

 diameter, 1.23 •. length of proboscis, approximate. 0.50; length of probos- 

 cis sheath, about 1: diameter of proboscis at base, exclusive of hooks, 

 0.08; at apex, 0.07. In one of the lots from the swordfish three of the 

 larval T. hicolor were found with their proboscides penetrating the tis- 

 sues of /i7/f/«Y7/o&of/<r?«»i (ittenuatiis, with which they were associated. 



Length of living specimen from Xiphias (/Jadins, 10.5; neck inclosing 

 short tail-like part by a collar ; color of living specimen, yellowish white. 

 The specimen from the dusky shark was purple red, adhering to pyloric 

 di\"ision of stomach. The stomach wall was locally iullamed where this 

 parasite was attached. Tliere \\ as also another ulcerated spot in the 

 mucous membrane near by. 



In life the greater part of the s})ecimen Mas a deep ]Hir])le red. The 

 anterior end and the posterior behind the bothria were a few shades 

 lighter. 



'DieeJug, liovis. d. ceph. al>. Par., p. 816. 



