Nematode Genus Taiiqna, R. Blanchard. 229 



type-species, in which the oesophagus is about twice as long, 

 being sometimes as much as ^ (or even more, according to 

 von Linstow), and never less tiian \, of tlie total length. 



The tail of the male (fig. 4) is 0'6 mm. long, or about ^^ of 

 the total length. There is a considerable lateral expansion 

 of the cuticle, forming a bursal ala on either side, so that the 

 outline of the tail is somewhat like an arrow-head with 

 rounded barbs. The two spicules measure 1'4 mm. in length 

 (or 1*1 mm. in a straight line from base to tip). They are 

 covered with minute spinelets, as in the preceding species. 

 The papillse are arranged precisely as in T. tiara, and are 

 present to the same number (eight pairs). The only im- 

 })ortant difference observed is that the second postanal pair 

 («'. e., the second from the extremity of the tail) lack the large 

 swelling, or exhibit it in a much less conspicuous degree. 



In the female the tail measures 0*65 mm. in length, or 

 about 4^3 of the total length. It tapers rapidly from the 

 anus, and ends in a sharp point. Tlie vulva is situated con- 

 siderably further forward than in tlie type-species, and is 

 within the middle third of the body ; in a mature example it 

 opens at 11"5 mm. from the posterior end, thus dividing tlie 

 body in the proportion of 33 : 23. The vagina is short. 

 One branch of the uterus, with its ovary, lies anteriorly to it, 

 the other posteriorly. The eggs are similar to those of 

 T. tiara in shape, measuring 60 fju in lengtli and I2*5 //. in 

 breadth. 



3. Tanqua anomala (v. Linst.). 

 Heterakis anomala, von Liuatow, 1904, p. 97 ; PI. i. figs. 10, 11. 



Under this name, in the same paper with T. [Cteno- 

 cephahis] tiara, von Linstow has described a form from tlie 

 stomach of Tropidonotus piscator in Ceylon, which appears 

 almost certainly to belong to the genus under consideration, 

 and not to Heterakis. There are certain apparent dis- 

 crepancies, which might, perhaps, be removed or explained 

 by a re-examination of the material. Thus the lips are 

 described as being three, instead of two, in number, and there 

 is said to be a peculiar preanal sucker-like organ in the male, 

 " beset with eight roundish projections, of which the cuticle 

 shows pore canals." But in all other respects the species 

 seems to agree very well with the two forms already con- 

 sidered in this paper. The tigures given by von Linstow at 

 once suggest Tanqua, on account of (1) the general shape of 

 the head, and the presence of striated cuticular swellings at 

 its base; (2) the characteristic shape of some of the caudal 

 pafiillee of the male ; and (3) the eqnal length and spiny or 



Ann. cfc Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 8. Vol. xvii. 1(3 



