1G8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MVSEVM. vol.50. 



Siabfainily TUCrUTj/^THTiNAJFl Hall, 1913. 



/Synonym. — Eitieularinae Travassos, 19145. 



Suh family diagnosis. — Metastrongylidae (p. 162) : Bursa much re- 

 duced or lacking ; when present, with few and atypical rays. Mouth 

 with well-developed buccal capsule. Prominent cuticular ornamenta- 

 tion along entire body. Oviparous. Parasites of the digestive tract. 



Type-genus. — Rictularia Froelich, 1802. 



In the published diagnosis of this subfamily (Hall, 1913) I re- 

 ferred to it as ovoviviparous, using the word in the not uncommon 

 sense as meaning the oviposition of eggs containing well-developed 

 embryos. This use of the word seems hardly accurate, ovoviviparous 

 referring more properly to the production of an embryo within a 

 shell and the hatching of the embryo within the maternal uterus. 



In the paper noted above, I stated that Rictularia did not have the 

 normal strongyle bursa and that the elaborate cuticular ornamenta- 

 tion and the fact that the eggs contained a developed embryo when 

 oviposited are atypical conditions among the strongyles. I stated, 

 however, that the buccal capsule which related RlctulaHa to the 

 strongyles excluded it from any other group. Seurat (1915/) has 

 recently published tlie view that the buccal capsule here is not indica- 

 tive of any real relationship but is merely the result of convergence 

 due to a similar mode of life, and that the structure of the esophagus, 

 the position of the post-cervical papillae and the excretory pore, the 

 conformation of the ovijector, the form of the eggs, and the disposition 

 of the genital papillae present manifest affinities with Physaloptera 

 and related forms. While Seurat's suggestion merits serious consid- 

 eration, the present winter does not feel in a position to pass on the 

 relationship at this time and prefers to leave these forms with the 

 Metastrongylidae. 



ANALYTICAL KKY TO GKNERA OF EICTULARIINAE. 



1. Cuticlo ornnnipntod witli 2 longitudinal rows of spines Rictularia, Tp.lGS. 



Cuticle ornuniented with 3 loiiyitudinnl rows of spin(>s__7?/rh//ar/o;'(Zcs, p. 175. 



Genus RICTULARIA Froelich, 1S02. 



Synonyms. — Ophlostoma Eudolplii, 1801; Ophiostomvm Creplin, 

 1839; Laphyctcs Dujnrdin, 1815; Pterygodermatites Wedl, 1801. 



Generic J^«Y??^(5s?6'.— Eictulariinae (p. 168) : Buccal capsule well de- 

 A' eloped and narrow, with its aperture more or less distinctly dorsal 

 and surrounded by a circlet of denticles, and with its base armed 

 with teeth and spines. Along practically the entire ventral surface 

 of each side there are two rows of cuticular combs or spines. Male 

 with or without bursa ; the bursa wli^n present is alv^ays small and 

 always remains open. Two small, equal or unequal spicules. Vulva 



