50 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.81 



cMensis, known only by females, it is distinguishable by the shape 

 of the female tail. Furthermore, the species is separated from P. 

 maimllatus and P. inerinicauda by the width of the lateral alae; 

 from P. spinicauda and P. tiliquae by the lack of a support for the 

 anterior margin of the bursa; and from P. hindlei by the latter's 

 conspicuous spicule. 



Two of the 6-lined race runners examined were heavily para- 

 sitized by this worm. Race runners are rare about Houston but are 

 very common at Huntsville, Tex., where these specimens were col- 

 lected. I am greatly indebted to Dr. S. D. Warner, of the Sam 

 Houston State Teachers' College, for assistance given me while col- 

 lecting in that locality, and I name this species in his honor. 



Genus COSMOCERCOIDES Wilkie, 1930 



This genus was erected for two species of Oxyuridae from Japa- 

 nese amphibians. It is distinguished from Cosmocerca by the 

 absence of true plectanes and by the presence of a ring of tubercles 

 about the base of the large papillae. No mention is made in the 

 description of the genus Oxysomatimn, yet this genus can only be 

 distinguished from Cosmocerxoides by the presence in the latter of 

 the aboA^e-mentioned tubercles. In certain specimens, which I have 

 obtained from the blue-tailed skink, and which are described more 

 fully below, these tubercles may be lacking. Since the worms from 

 this host are all very small and appear to retain juvenile characters 

 after reaching sexual maturity, it seems not unlikely that they are 

 in an unsuitable host. Until more Imowledge concerning their rela- 

 tionship to the normal members of the species is obtained, however, 

 it seems best to recognize Cosmocercoides as a genus for those forms 

 possessing cuticular tubercles about the base of certain large papillae. 



COSMOCERCOIDES DUKAE (HoU, 1928) Travassos, 1931 



Synonyms: Cosmocerca dukae Holl, 1928; Oxysomatium variabilis Haewood, 

 1930. 



As Wilkie has suggested, this species should be transferred to his 

 new genus Cosmocercoides. Holl's type material came from Triturus 

 viridescens, which does not occur in this vicinity; but I have found 

 the same species of parasite very common in other hosts. Unfor- 

 tunately I was not aware until recently of Holl's species, and I de- 

 scribed this worm separately under the name of Oxysomatium 

 variaMlis. Although it is an extremely variable form, there can 

 be no doubt that Holl and I described the same species, and as Holl's 

 name has priority it must stand. Accordingly Oxysomatium varia- 

 hilis Harwood, 1930, falls as a synonym of Cosmocera dukae Holl, 

 1928. 



