NEMATODE PARASITES OF BIRDS 207 



Seurat (1913&) suggests that probably this species should be put 

 in the genus Viguiera. The evidence from the available descriptions 

 and figures does not seem sufficiently complete to warrant the present 

 writer in assigning this species to a genus other than the provisional 

 genus in which it is left here. 



SPIROPTERA SAG1NATA (Rudolphi, 1819) Dujardin. 1S15 



Synonym. — Physaloptera saginata Rudolphi, 1819. 



Hosts. — Primary: Caprimulgus guianensis, C. leucopygeus,Corcus 

 cajanus, C rotophaga and, Cuculus tinguaeu, FoJco fwcatus, Icterus 

 crlstatus, Strix atricapUla, S. torquata and Thamnophilus funebris; 

 secondary : Unknown. 



Location. — Intestine. 



Morphology. — Spiroptera (p. 205) : Brownish worms with the ex- 

 tremities somewhat attenuated, white and translucid. Mouth a 

 rounded oval, widened transversely. Cuticula strongly striated 

 transversely. 



Male unknown. 



Female 34 to 45 mm. long, according to Dujardin, or up to 80 

 mm. long, according to Molin, by 1 to 2.25 mm. wide, the body 

 curled in a loose spiral. The anus is remote from the caudal ex- 

 tremity and the tail ends in a bluntly rounded termination. 



Life history. — Unknown; probably involves intermediate stages 

 in some other hosts. 



Distribution. — South America (Brazil). 



This species has been shifted back and forth between Physaloptera 

 and Spiroptera. Rudolphi made it Physaloptera, Dujardin Spirop- 

 tera,, Stossich restored it to Physaloptera, and Qrtlepp (1922) has 

 recently stated that he has examined specimens of the species and 

 that it belongs in Spiroptera. As Ortlepp was monographing the 

 genus Phi/x<il<>ptera, it seems reasonably sure that the species does not 

 belong in ftlvysdloptera. Its assignment by Ortlepp to Spiroptera 

 can only be taken to mean that it is a spirurid which is not Phy- 

 saloptera. Large spirurid worms in the intestine of birds are sug- 

 gestive of such forms as Hartertia gallinarum, but in default of 

 further evidence it seems advisable to leave S. saginata in Spiroptera 

 pending further study of actual specimens by some worker. 



SPIROPTERA TENUICOLLIS (Rudolphi, 1819) Dujardin, 1815 



Synonym. — Physaloptera tenuicollis Rudolphi, 1819. 

 LLont*. — Primary: Falco haliaetuSf secondary: Unknown. 

 Location. — Intestine. 

 3012—27 15 



