NEMATODE PARASITES OF BIRDS 233 



border of collar 765/z from head end. Vulva near middle of body, 

 usually slightly posterior to middle, 6/11 of total body length from 

 head end. Ovejector short, directed posteriorly; vestibule horn- 

 shaped as in Dispharynsa and Synhimantus ; sphincter rectilinear; 

 unpaired varnish gland or trompe 35G> long. Eggs 32/x by 18/z, 

 thick-shelled, embryonated at maturity. 



Life history. — Unknown; probably involves intermediate stages 

 in other hosts. 



Distribution. — Europe and Africa (Algeria). 



Genus COSMOCEPHALUS Molin, 1858 



Synonyms. — Filaria Mueller, 1787, part; /Sp-iroptera Rudolphi, 

 1819, part; Dispharagus Dujardin, 1845, part; Histiocephalus 

 Diesing, 1851, part. 



Generic diagnosis. — Acuariinae (p. 211) : Cordons recurrent and 

 anastomosing on the lateral surfaces of the cephalic extremity, not 

 flat against body cuticle but applied to the margins of membranous 

 plates or alae and forming a posteriorly directed loop immediately 

 after their origin at each side of the lips. Lateral papillae post- 

 cervical, situated posterior to the cordons. Lateral alae present, 

 originating directly posterior to the lateral papillae. 



Parasitic in esophagus of birds. 



Type-species. — Cosmocephalus diesingi Molin, 1858, emend. 

 Cram, 1927. 



KEY TO SPECIDS OF COSMOCEPHALUS 



1. Cordons not scalloped on inner edge; tail of female ending in a sharp point. 



Cosmocephalus diesingi, p. 233. 



Cordons scalloped on inner edge; tail of female ending in a buttondike or 



suckerdike appendage 2. 



2. Head with 4 prominent papillae; length of cordons 2.5 to 3 times the width 



of body at level of cordons ; tail of female 10/569 of total length ; vulva 2/5 

 of total body length from anterior end ; spicules 130/a and 42tV long. 



Cosmocephalus obvelatus, p. 235. 



Head without prominent papillae; length of cordons less than 2 times the 



width of body at level of cordons; tail of female 10/732 of total length; 



vulva 20/43 of total length from anterior end : spicules l.SOju. and 700/x long. 



Cosmocephalus aduncus, p. 'S'A. 



COSMOCEPHALUS DIESINGI Molin. 1858, emended Cram, 1927 



Synonym. — Cosmocephalus diesingii Molin, 1858. 



Hosts. — Primary: Larus capistranus; secondary :Unknown. 



Location. — Esophagus. 



Morphology. — Cosmocephalus (p. 233) : Head pointed and subtri- 

 angular, distinctly set off from body. Four oval plates or alae 

 (fig. 296 a and b) attached to the head and joined anteriorly; judg- 

 ing from Molin's figure, these plates are bordered by cordons. Body 



