NEMATODE PARASTTES OF BIRDS 



219 



but his illustration and magnification show this an error) to 287 

 and 234/x long (Linstow, 1895), the right 34 and the left 31t* wide, 

 according to Linstow, or both M/x wide, according to Mueller (1897). 

 Female 23 mm. long. Vulva (fig. 283) somewhat anterior to mid- 

 dle of body, or 10 mm. from head end, according to Schneider. Eggs 

 thick-shelled, elliptical, 92.6^ by 26.2,* (Linstow, 1873), or 39/* by 

 26ti (Linstow, 1895). 



Figs. 281-282. — Acuakia axtiuris. 281, Male tail, a, Cross section ; b, ventral 

 view. After Schneider, 1SGG. 282, «., Male tail X about 50 ; b, female tail 

 end. After Linstow, 1873 



Life history. — Unknown; Linstow (1895) found an encapsulated 

 larva in Gam-marus pulex which he regarded as possibly this species. 



Distribution. — Europe. 



It has unfortunately, but quite naturally, happened that many of 

 the older genera have poorly described and little known species as 

 types. This is the case with Acuaria, type A. anthuris, and this is 

 one reason for the complicated relationships of Acuaria, Spiroptera, 

 Anthuris, and Dispkaragus ; a well described and commonly known 

 type species aids in the definition of a genus and in the efforts to 



Fig. 283. — Accaria ANTHURIS. Ovejector. After Seurat, 1915 



promptly assign the species to a valid genus and retain it there. 

 Even yet, A. ant hurts is not well described in any work available to 

 the writer, and there are certain discrepancies that need clearing up 

 in the available descriptions. 



In a discussion of the genus Acuaria sensu stricto (p. 217) the 

 writer has briefly summarized the somewhat complicated status of 

 the genus Acuaria as related to Spiroptera, Anthuris, and Disphara- 

 gus. A detail of that case, not discussed there, is the fact that Ru- 

 dolphi's Spiroptera anthuris was a composite species and as such 

 S. anthuris is in part a synonym of several other recognized species. 



