NEMATODE PARASITES OF BIRDS 



321 



of the esophagus, dividing the body length in the ratio of 1:45. 

 Eggs 23/a by 16/z, very numerous. 



Life Mstory. — Unknown; probably involves intermediate stages 

 in other hosts. 



Distribution. — Bismarck Archipelago. 



Genus OXYSPIRURA Drasche in Stossich, 1897 



Generic diagnosis. — Thelaziidae (p. 311) : Mouth without lips, sur- 

 rounded by 2 lateral and 4 submedian cephalic papillae. A short 



Figs. 384-385. — 384, Ceratospira vesiculosa. Male tail. After Schneider, 

 1866. 385, Ceratospira ophthalmica. a, Head end; b, male tail. After 

 I.instow, 1898 



buccal cavity or pharynx present. Membranous alae on head gener- 

 ally lacking. Tail very slender, acutely pointed. Male with tail 

 curled or in spiral, without caudal alae; caudal papillae present, 

 sessile, the preanal of very variable number ('2 to 28), the postanal 

 (1 to 8) often asymmetrical. Two unequal spicules, one long and 

 filiform, the other short and thick. Female with straight tail. Vulva 

 in posterior part of body, a short distance anterior to the anus. 



Parasitic under nictitating membrane in birds. 



Type species. — Oxyspieura cepfmloptem (Molin, L860) Stossich, 

 1897. 



KEY TO SPECIES en' ciXVSI'IRI'K.V 



1. Head with cuticular expansions, at least in the female 2. 



Head without cuticular expansions, or none described, or inconstant (in 

 O. parvovion sometimes present in male) 5. 



