REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 169 



It requires at least six months, possibly ten, to attain an adult size. 



The ova or embryos are continually passed from the sheep to the 

 ground throughout the year. The life of the embryo, from the time 

 it leaves one sheep until it is found in another, is yet undiscovered. 



When present in considerable numbers in sheep it determines a 

 disease which is not only detrimental to the value of the animal, but 

 at times causes the death of large numbers. 



No medicinal remedies can be recommended which will assuredly 

 remove the parasite from the host. 



Many measures may be taken which may prove to be effective in 

 two ways, first, in preventing sheep from becoming infected; second, 

 in enabling the sheep to better withstand the ravages of the parasite, 

 and thus carry it over the critical stage of its existence. 



The lambs and yearlings are the greatest sufferers, and it is to 

 these that the most attention must be paid. 



T^NIA FIMBKIATA, Diesing. 



See Plate I, Figs. 1-7, and Plate II, Figs. 1-15. 

 Thysanosoma actinioides, Diesing, 1834. 



Med. Jahrb. d. oesterr. Staat. Neue Folge VII, 105-111. 



Taf . Ill (Fig. inverse delin.) Ej. Syst. Helm. I, 501 in nota. 

 Tcenia fimbriata, Diesing. 



Syst. Helm. I, 501. 

 Tcenia fimbriata, Diesing, 1856. 



Zwanzig Arten. v. Cephalocothyleen, p. 11, 1856. Wien. 



Tc&nia fimbriata, Diesing, was first discovered by Natterer, in 

 Brazil, in 1824, and published by Dr. K. M. Diesing in 1834 as anew 

 genus, Thysanosoma actinioides. Later, in 1856, Dr. Diesing repub- 

 lished this parasite as Tamia fimbriata, (See Plate I.) 



The first specimens found were detached segments, and from these 

 the first description was made. Natterer later found more complete 

 specimens and upon these the species was founded. The specimens 

 were found in the intestines of the following species of deer, viz : Cer- 

 vus paludosus, C. rufus, C. simplicornis, C. Nambi, C. dichotomus. 



A translation of the original Latin description is as follows: 



Arhynchotcenice. Rostellum none; mouth unarmed. 

 Tcenia fimbriata, Diesing. Tab. V, Figs. 9-15. (Plate I is a copy.) 

 Head obtuse tetragonal, large, with hemispherical angular bothria; neck none; 

 body anteriorly lanceolate, with very short cuiieate segments; posterior margin of 

 the upper entire, of the following crenate, of the last fimbriate on each side; the 

 linear nmbrise rounded at the apices. Genital apertures ; length 6" '6"; width 

 1'" 3"'. Mature segments, separate, 1'" long, 2'" wide, with lanceolate fimbrise. 



This description was necessarily imperfect, from the lack of abun- 

 dant material, but is nevertheless sufficient to enable us to identify 

 the present species with it. Fortunately, too, excellent figures en- 

 able us to clearly understand the fimbriate character of the species. 

 At present this is the only species known to possess this character. 

 Though characters founded on form are of doubtful value, until 

 more decided differences are determined between the fimbriate taenia 

 of deer and those of sheep, this decidedly strong character must 

 serve to keep the two together. Besides, there are no strong reasons 

 why the two should be separate, for each is of about the same size, 

 a fact which we would scarcely expect in the same parasite living 

 in hosts of different genera; and each is also found in hosts of similar 

 body temperatures, habits of life and of feeding. That they are 

 found in far separated localities need be no serious objection, for 



