NO. 1573. PARASITIC COPEPODS— WILSON. 325 



The name Stasiotes, proposed by Wright in 1877, had been used by 

 Jan for a snake genus in 1862. In its place is suggested the name 

 Prosaetes, from Ttpoaalrr/g, a beggar, who torments one by his 

 persistence. 



A complete life liistory is also presented by using different stages 

 of development from different genera, but as none of the developmental 

 stages have ever been described even tliis is a consideral)le advance. 



Part 3.— THE PANDARINvE. 



ECOLOGY. 



The Pandarinas are peculiarly shark parasites, the genera and 

 even the species, almost without exception, infesting some one of 

 the numerous selachians along our coasts. In general the females 

 remain throughout life fixed in the same position on their host, and 

 even the males are rarely found swimming about freely. And yet 

 upon occasion, as will be seen later, these males can swim as well 

 as any of the Caliginse. Hence it is not a case of necessity but one 

 of choice that keeps them in close proximity to the fixed females. 



In this connection Hesse writes:'' 



Les poissons sur lesquels on les trouve n'etant pas, comme ceiix des autres especes, 

 enduits d'une secretion mucilagineuse qui, en lubrifiant la peau, la rend j^lus souple 

 et plus penetrable et facilite ainsi les fonctions des organes destines a la perforer. 

 Prives de ces avantages et insuffisamment fixes sur une enveloppe ej^aisse et coriace, 

 ils ne tardent pas, lorsqu'ils sent sortis de I'eau, a s'en detacher et a tomber a terre, 

 ou dans le fond des bateaux, et alors, a raison de leur extreme petitesse, il est bien 

 difficile de les retrouver. 



This statement might give the impression that the Pandarinse 

 are outcasts among the parasites, unable to find anything better 

 in the way of hosts, and so compelled to put up with these thick- 

 skinned sharks. But such does not seem to be the case; the shark's 

 skin is tough, but is not particularly thick for so large a fish, and 

 it is certainly covered with mucus the same as that of other fishes. 

 It is therefore as easy to penetrate as the skin of a fish covered with 

 heavy scales. 



Furthermore, as Hesse himself says, immediately after the passage 

 quoted, these Pandarinse seek out those places on the shark's body 

 where the skin is the thinnest, such as the fins, the inside of the 

 operculum, the border of the anal and genital orifices, and even 

 the eyes. In fact this same preference is shown by all the Caligidse, 

 and is just as pronounced on a scaly fish as on these selachians, 

 for the skin in the localities mentioned is always soft and tender 

 enough, even on a shark, to be easily penetrated, especially by such 

 large parasites as the Pandarinse. Hence the reason implied by 



«Annales des Sciences Naturelles (6), XV, Article 3, p. 39. 



