224 



DR. T. S. COBBOLD ON THE PAEASITES OF ELEPHANTS. 



Sanger's Circus. An independent examination of the viscera of one of the Circus 

 animals likewise supplied me with several new species of internal parasites. I am also 

 indebted to Prof. Flower and Dr. Garson for permitting the examination of two 

 tusks preserved in the Hunterian Museum. 



At the time that Dr. Baird wrote his first paper (1859) only two species of Entozoa 

 were supposed to infest the Elephant ; and one of these had been imperfectly described. 

 He then added a third. In 18G8 Dr. Baird indicated a fourth species ; and one year 

 later the hitherto imperfectly but best-known parasite was pretty fully described by myself. 

 Thus up to the year 18G9 only four internal parasites were known to infest Elephants ; 

 and of these one had been referred to the genus Ascaris, two to the genus Sclerostoma, 

 whilst the fourth species was supposed to be identical with the common fluke. This was 

 an error. To show how little progress has since been made, I may observe that when, 

 so lately as 1878, Dr. O. von Linstow published his useful ' Compendium der nelmin- 

 thologie,' the actual number of known and really genuine species had not increased. To 

 be sure, Dr. von Linstow did not hesitate to record the occurrence of six distinct species ; 

 but he accomplished this result by placing the fluke parasite under three separate specific 

 names. There is not the smallest ground on which to justify this process of species- 

 splitting. If my determinations are correct, it follows that up to the present time only 

 four Entozoa proper to Elephants are known to science ; however, notwithstanding my 

 reduction of Dr. von Linstow's list, and the consequent rejection of several recorded 

 species, I am now enabled to furnish proofs as to the occurrence of at least twelve 

 distinct species of internal parasites in the Indian Elephant. This includes the bots or 

 larva3 of a dipterous insect . Of the external parasites I have made no special study ; but 

 if these be added to the parasitic fauna, the total number of Ectozoa and Entozoa com- 

 prises not less than fourteen good species. A simple table will best express their 

 zoological position and relations. 



Entozoa 



m 



Eh 



i— i 



< 



Ectozoa 



Ascaris lonchoptera, Diesing 



Sclerostoma sipunculiforme, Baird.. 



Strongylus clathratus, Baird 



Strongylus foliatus, sp. nov 



Strongylus falcifer, sp. nov 



Dochmius Sangeri, sp. nov 



Filaria Smitkii. sp. nov 



Amphistoma Hawkesii, Cobb 



Amphistoma ornatum, sp. nov 



Amphistoma papillatum, sp. nov. .. 



Fasciola Jaclcsoni, Cobb 



Gastrophilus elephantis, Cobb 



Ova of a dipterous insect (Sclater) 

 Hcematomyzus elephantis, Piaget .. 



Nematoda 



} IIELMINTHA. 



TllEMATODA , 



Insecta 



ARTHROPODA. 



Homopus elephantis, Meguin A rachnida , 



Eor reasons that will be given later on, I have not reckoned Sclatcr's dipterous ovum 

 as representing a separate species. 



