18S7.J PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 369 



The occurrence of this parasite iu the eggs of fowls, while not com- 

 mon, is not difScult to account for. Its favorite place of lodgment in 

 its host is in the Bursa of Fabricius. An individual may occasionally 

 j)enetrate one of the passages which communicate with the cloaca. It 

 is well known that such excursions are sometimes made by this parasite 

 into the oviduct. If it should penetrate beyond the shell-forming glands 

 when an ovum is in transitu it would not be an improbable thing if the 

 parasite should find itself envelo^ied in the glairy albumen which is being 

 exuded there. Indeed, it is difficult to conceive how it could escape 

 this fate. Once within the albuminous envelope it becomes, as it were, 

 a part of the egg, and the deposition of the calcareous covering would 

 not be impeded in the least by its presence there. 



It is not at all likely that D. ovatum could develop in a human host, 

 yet in view of the fact that the Entozoa in the process of their develop- 

 ment may pass their different stages in very different hosts, it should 

 lead one to be on his guard when he partakes of raw or partially cooked 

 animal food, of whatever kind it may be. 



Washington and Jefferson College, 



Washington, Pa., February 16, 1887. 



eafa by Rndolplii; iu A. danguJa, A. ferina, A. glacialis, A. marila, and A. musica by 

 Creplin ; iu Fulica atra by Wedl aud others ; iu Corvm pica by Rudolphi ; iu C. fritgil- 

 egus by Meyer; iu C. comix; iu Falco subhuteo ; iu F. nisus ; in F. buteo ; iu Strix 

 hrachyoius ; iu Scolopax gallinago by Wedl, aiul iu S, rmticola and Podiceps subcristatus 

 by Mehlis ; iu Tardus vlscivoriis ; in GaUinula chloropus and G. porcana by Siel)oId ; iu 

 0/is terrffl by Otto ; in. Ardea grm by Wedl ; in Lanius minor ; in Fring ilia cwJehs ; iu 

 F. montanU by Creplin ; in Niimeniiis arciiatiis ; in Vanellus cristatus ; in Lams canus 

 and Uria grglle by Crei)lin ; it has likewise been recorded by Otto iu the oviduct of 

 rhasianus gallus, aud iu the egg itself by Ilauow, Purkiuje, Eschscholtz, aud Schill- 

 ing." 



For additional remarks on literature and synonymy see Diesing, Syst. Helm, p. 

 335-336, and Revis. der Myzhelm, p. 333 ; Von Linstow, Troschel's Archiv, 1873, 1, p. 

 95-97 and Compend. Helm, 1878. 



Proc. ]^. M. 87 24 



