252 



BULLETIN 140, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Life history. — Unknown; probably involves intermediate stages 

 in other hosts (see E. uncinata, p. 246). 



Distribution. — North America (United States (National Zoologi- 

 cal Park, Washington, D. C.) ). 



Type specimens. — United States National Museum (Bureau of 

 Animal Industry) Helminthological Collection No. 18566; collected 

 by Dr. Leigh Giltner. 



The female genitalia of this species as described above are very 

 different from those of E. uncinata as described by Seurat. The lat- 

 ter species has a short ovejector of the type of Dispharynx with a bi- 



O-jmm 



02 mm 



o/mm 



o-2/nm 



Fig. 314. — Echinuria decorata. a, Anterior end; b, cordon; c, female tail; d, 

 vulva and vestibule ; e, vulva, ovejector, and uteeus ; f, male tail ; g and 7l, 

 spicules. Original 



partite varnish gland (trompe) which connects with the 2 uteri. As 

 a transition form between the didelphic E. uncinata and the monodel- 

 phic E. decorata there is E. hargilae. Baylis and Daubney state 

 that this species may be considered monodelphic, as it has only 1 

 functional uterus, the other uterus being represented only by a 

 blind sac-like structure. . In E. decorata even this remnant has dis- 

 appeared. The present writer has been unable to find any refer- 

 ence to any other monodelphic form in the Spiruroidea; whenever 

 the number of uteri is given there are always two or more. The 

 absence of any reference to the character of the internal genitalia 

 in the great majority of forms, however, indicates the need for 

 closer observation and more extensive description. 



