Art. XL — Note on a Victorian Host of the Larval Stages 

 of the Liver Fluke (Distonia Jiepaticiun). 



By Thomas Cherry, M.D. 



[Eead 12th December, 1895.] 



During the last six months T have made frequent examination 

 of snails from various parts of the colony, with the view of 

 discovering the intermediate host of the common sheep fluke — 

 D. hepaticitm. The snails have been procured tlirough the Stock 

 Department and have come chiefly from the western and north- 

 western districts. Nothing of importance was revealed by the 

 dissections made during the winter, but about a fortnight ago a 

 large specimen of Bulinus tenuistriatus was found containing a 

 very large number of rediie and cercainte. Since that time the 

 same forms have been found in several snails of the same species, 

 as well as minute white bodies which I believe to be the 

 sporocysts. The cercarite correspond in every particular to 

 the measurements and description given by Thomas in the 

 Q. Journ. Mic. Science., Vol. XXIII. The snails from which I 

 have so far obtained these larval forms have been sent from the 

 head waters of the Wimmera. They are very numerous in the 

 creeks and swamps, and this species is perhaps the commonest 

 and most widely distributed species of snail in Victoria. A 

 number of specimens of Liiuiuva venustiila from the same creeks 

 have been examined, but have been found free of the larval fluke. 

 Investigations as to the occurrence . of similar forms in other 

 parts of Victoria are being continued at the University, and 

 experiments will be carried out with the view of determining 

 their identity with D. hepaiiciDii. The above species of .snail 

 appears to be a different species from that in which Dr. Cobb 

 discovered the larval forms, as I'eported by the Age, 2nd Nov., 

 1895. I am indebted to Mr. G. B. Pritchard for ide*itifying 

 the snails. 



Mote. — Since the above paper was read I have observed the 

 same redi?e and cercarife in specimens of B. tenuistriatus from all 

 the southern and western parts of the colony. 



