NEMATODE PARASITES OF BIRDS 29 



Male 10.8 mm. long by 210/x, wide. Bursa (fig. 27) with a strongly 

 reticulate striation and with its free edge folded over the ventral 

 surface. Rays somewhat similar to those of Amidostoinum anseris 

 (p. 21), and similar papillae on the posterior edge of the cloacal 

 aperture. The spicules are 200,u. long, divided proximally into 3 

 branches, of which the dorsal is longitudinally striated. 



Female 16.7 mm. long by 27;")^ wide. Body reddish in esophageal 

 region and white elsewhere, abruptly truncated on the ventral sur- 

 face at the level of the anus and terminating in a short, digitiform 

 tail. Vulva transverse, 140//, long, with salient lips, i/5 of the body 

 length from the tail end. Eggs ovoid, thick-shelled, 95/* long by 

 55//, wide, segmenting when deposited. 



Life history. — Unknown; probably simple and direct. 



Distribution. — Europe and Africa (Algeria). 



Superfamily STRONGYLOIDEA Weinlancl, 1858 



Superfamily diagnosis. — Strongylata (p. 5) : Meromyarian. 

 Buccal capsule present. Bursa usually of typical strongyle struc- 

 ture, with a dorsal ray or 2 dorsal rays of approximately the same 

 width as the 6 other rays on each side of the bursa and not excessively 

 wider than these. Male with 2 spicules and female with 2 ovaries. 

 Vulva usually posterior to middle of body; occasionally anterior 

 {Syngamvs). Oviparous, the eggs segmenting when oviposited. 

 Embryo and first-stage larva rhabditiform. Usually thick and 

 rather stiff worms. Usually in digestive tract, sometimes in respira- 

 tory tract {Syngamus) or tissues (Stephanurus) , as adults; in circu- 

 latory system or tissues as agamic individuals {Stiongylus). 

 Development, so far as known, direct and without intermediate host, 

 but with wandering of larvae through body (Strongylus, Ancylos- 

 toma, etc.) or at least into tissues adjoining digestive tract {(Eso- 

 phagostomum) in a number of known cases. 



Type family. — Strongylidae Baird, 1853. 



The name Strongyloidea was originally proposed as a family 

 name by Weinland and was first used as a superfamily name by 

 Hall (1013). The superfamily diagnosis given by Hall (1016) is 

 in this paper substantially that of the suborder Strongylata, and 

 the above diagnosis for the superfamily is substantially that of the 

 family Strongylidae as recognized of recent years and up to the 

 present time. 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF STRONGYLOIDEA 



1. Vulva in posterior half of the body. Parasites of digestive tract. 



Strongylidae, p. 30. 



Vulva in anterior half of the body or rarely median to slightly posterior. 



Parasites of respiratory tract Syngamidae, p. 33. 



