204 FILARIOIDEA 



shorter spicule is curved and smooth. Vulva close to anterior 

 end of body. Eggs contain embryos in utero. 



Hab. Connective tissue of Birds. 



Genotype : D. [Filaria] labiatum (Creplin, 1825). 



Creplin, 1825, Observationes de Entozois, 1; Diesing, 1861, 

 Sitz. k. Akad. Wiss., Wien, xlii, 620, 707; Skrjabin, 1917, 

 Parasitol., ix, 474. 



Since Filaria labiata Creplin, the species indicated by 

 Stiles & Hassall (1905) as type of Dicheilonema, is referred by 

 Skrjabin to his genus Contortospiculum, the latter appears to 

 fall into synonymy. Accordingly, we have taken Skrjabin's 

 diagnosis as that of Dicheilonema. RaiUiet (1918, Bull. Soc. 

 Zool. France, xliii, 104) declined to accept F. labiata as the 

 type of Dicheilonema. He suggested that, since Diesing, in 

 defining Dicheilonema, had used the expression ' ' penis vagina 

 tubulosa," and since at that time D. bifidum (Molin) was the 

 only species in which the large spicule had already been 

 described as tubular, this species should be taken as the type 

 of the genus. The term " vagina penis,'" so frequently used 

 by Molin and Diesing, appears to us one of very uncertain 

 significance, and it is somewhat arbitrary to assume that it 

 refers to the large spicule. Moreover, as RaiUiet admits, the 

 species bifidum is insufficiently characterized to distinguish 

 it generically from Contortospicidiim, in which the large 

 spicule may also be described as " tubular." 



3. Hastospiculum Skrjabin, 1923. 



Mouth oval, with two prominently projecting lateral lip-like 

 structures arising from a broad base. Behind these there are 

 epaulette-like structures, of which the posterior ends form 

 each three processes. The head bears two lateral and four 

 double submedian papillae, situated on the epaulettes. The 

 epaulettes are joined dorsally and ventrally by a cuticular 

 band without papillae. Tail of male with three pairs of 

 preanal papillae. Spicules very unequal ; the longer slender, 

 with a spatulate expansion at the tip, the shorter bow- 

 shaped and apparently alate. Eggs contain embryos in 

 utero. 



Hab. Serous membranes of Reptiles. 

 Genotype : H. varani Skrjabin, 1923. 



Skrjabin, 1923, Russk. Zhurn. Trop. Med., Moscow, i. 



4. Serratospiculum Skrjabin, 1915. 



Cuticle bearing numerous small papillae or tubercles. Mouth 

 with two trilobed lateral lip-like structures. Oesophagus 

 with short, slender, anterior muscular portion and long, much 

 ■wider, posterior glandular portion. Tail of male with small 



