522 Georgina Siveet : 



ca2}siilaria, Kud. (v. Dr. Baird). Leidy gives Fdnria cap- 

 sulai-ia, Rud.= Agaiiioinina capnilaria. Dies., and Gordius 

 Tuarimis, Linn. = Ac/aDioneuia ca'psuhiriu. Dies; while Linton, 

 in giving Agamonema capsularia, Ty'\Qii.= Asrari^ capsularia, 

 Rud., links on the synonyms of Asraris capsularia, Rud. 

 Numerous other references have been consulted in this connec- 

 tion, but as they simply corroborate what has been given above, 

 and add nothing fresh to the discussion, I have omitted them. 

 It would thus appear that the name for this admittedly inde- 

 finite species should be Asraris marina (Linn.), and as I have 

 not been able to discover any reason why Linnaeus' species 

 has iTeen rejected, especially by Leidy (who calls attention to 

 its synonym}^), I have used this as being the more correct 

 name, in preference to the commonly accepted name, Ascaris 

 capsularia, Rud. 



Possibly there has been a confusion of a number of sjjecies 

 very closely related in general appearance and habit. Linton 

 only regards them as Ascaris species, their immaturity and 

 the variability they display even where the differing specimens 

 are almost certainly of one species, rendering it difhcult to dis- 

 tinguish them specifically. Much of this variability is doubtless 

 simply due to dift'erence in the stage of development, so that 

 the number of adult species represented by these varying forms 

 will be very much less than appears at first sight when exam- 

 ining them. 



As the early descriptions given by Leidy of Agamonema cap- 

 sularia, Dies. (^Gordius marinus, L.) so closely agree with the 

 forms in my possession, it seems justifiable to designate them 

 Ascaris marina, Linn., even in the light of the possibility 

 of several species being confused under one specific name, and 

 the impossibility of my being able to determine al present the 

 exact original form described under the specific name of 

 mnriuuH, At the best, the name is one given to an immature 

 Ascarid. 



Host. — Barracouta. 



Locality.— Port Phillip, Victoria ; Nov., 1908. 



No previous record from Australia. 



