190 PROCEEDINGS OF TEE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 50. 



poorly described species, but it occasionally seems desirable to have 

 some brief way of designating such a record. 



MICROFILARIA species Hall, 1916. 



Specific diagnosis. — Microfilaria (p. 188) : Long, pointed. 



Host. — Eretliizon dorsatum. 



Location. — Blood. 



Locality. — London Zoological Gardens. 



Plimmer's (1915) record: See comment under Filaria suhcutanea. 



FILARIA species Davaine, i860, of von Linstow, 1889. 



Specif-G diagnosis. — Filiform animalcules. 



Llost. — EpiwAjs rattus {Mus rattus) (von Linstow erroneously 

 says Mus decumanus). 



Location. — Blood. 



Locality. — France. 



Chaussat (1850) has a record of the finding of filiform animalcules 

 in the blood of the black rat [Miis rattus). These were present in 

 some rats in large numbers. It appears to me likely that this is the 

 rather common Trypmiosoma lewisi. 



Family SPIRURIDAE Oerley, 1885a. 



Synonyms. — Spiruroidea Railliet and Henry, 1915; Spirurata 

 Descazeaux, 1915. 



Family diagnosis. — Filarioidea (p. 178) : Mouth with two lips; or 

 without lips in forms where vulva is near posterior extremity of 

 body. Male with posterior extremity of body commonly expanded 

 and alate. Female with vulva usualW in middle portion of body, 

 exceptionally near the posterior extremity as noted above. Railliet 

 and Henry (1915) treat this as a superfamily, the Spiruroidea. 



Type-genus. — Spirura E. Blanchard, 1849. 



ANALYTICAL KEY TO SUBFAMILIES OF SPIEUKIDAE. ' 



1. Uudescribed or inadequately described species Subfamily uncertain, p. 220. 



Described species and genera 2. 



2. IMoutli without lips ; vulva near posterior extremity Gongyloueminae, p. 190. 



IMouth with 2 lips ; vulva remote from extremities of body 3. 



3. Pharynx strengthened by cuticular rings or spirals Arduonninae, p. 218. 



Pharynx without cuticular rings or spirals Si)irurinae, p. 199. 



G}-OIsrG}-YIL.ON'EM:iN.i^E Hall, 1916, new subfannily. 



Suhfamily diagnosis. — Spiruridae (p. 190) : Bod}' long and fili- 

 form. Anterior portion of body ornamented with cuticuhir bosses. 

 In the median lines, immediately behind the mouth, are two semi- 

 lunar depressions siriiulating suckers. The vulva of female is situ- 

 ated a short distance anterior of the anus. 



Type- genus. — Gongylonema Molin, 1857. 



