AST. 1 INDO-CHINA PARASITIC NEMATODES SCHWARTZ 3 



regardg the shape and direction of certain papillae in the male and 

 ascribes these differences to individual variation. Thus, Schneider 

 (1866) figures the most, cephalad papilla rounded in shape, whereas 

 Von Linstow, Boulenger, and Travassos figure it as being trans- 

 versely elongated. With regard to the direction of the second lateral 

 papilla there is also a diversity of views, since Schneider and Bou- 

 lenger figure it as being directed ventrally, whereas Von Linstow 

 and Travassos figure it as being directed laterally. Boulenger also 

 regards Ascaridia ha7nia Lane, 1914, a synonym of Ascaridia lineata^ 

 and the present wri<(er concurs in this opinion. Lane's figure shows 

 the second lateral papilla directed laterally and his drawing of the 

 most cephalad papilla agrees with that of Schneider. 



Specimens examined by the present writer show considerable varia- 

 tion as regards the shape and direction of certain papillae as well as 

 regards the size of the spicules. In immature specimens frorn the 

 goose the spicules are from 530iJ^ to 570[ji. long, the second 

 lateral papilla being directed ventrally in some specimens, and having 

 a lateral direction in others. In larger, though still immature speci- 

 mens, from the chicken, the spicules are from 700[jl to 800^^ 

 long, and the second lateral papilla is directed laterally. The first 

 ventral papilla is transversely flattened in most speeimens examined 

 by the pi*esent writer, although in one immature specimen it was 

 found to be rounded, agreeing in shape with this papilla as figured 

 by Schneider and Lane. Sexually mature specimens of Ascaridia 

 lineata from the chicken agree in practically all respects with the 

 description of Ascaridia hamia Lane, which is also based on mature 

 specimens. In my specimens the spicules are up to 2.4 mm. in length 

 whereas Lane gives the length of the spicules as 2 mm. The sucker 

 is 0.2 mm. in diameter, according to Lane, this measurement agree- 

 ing with that of Boulenger, so far as can be judged from the latter's 

 figures. In specimens examined by the writer the sucker showed 

 considerable variation, being only 0.15 mm. in diameter in immature 

 specimens and attaining a diameter of 0.25 mm. in large sexually 

 mature forms. 



The females also show considerable variation as regards the length 

 of the tail (from 0.5 mm. to 1.5 mm. depending upon the size of the 

 specimens) and as regards the length of that portion of the vagina 

 that extends cephalad (from 0.425 mm. to 1 mm.), the shortest dis- 

 tance corresponding to the youngest forms and the longest distance 

 to the largest forms. Similar variations were found as regards the 

 distance of the excretory pore and nerve ring from the cephalic 

 extremity the length of the tail in the male, and in other characters. 



In this connection it maj^ be noted that according to Travassos 

 (1920) the genus Ascaridia belongs to the family Ascaridae and is 

 placed in a distinct subfamily (Ascaridinae) on the basis of the 



