26 



THE ROUNDWORMS OF DOMESTIC SWINE. 



Seurat (1912) reports finding several hundred specimens of Spi- 

 roptera sexalata partially buried in the mucosa of the stomach of an 



ass slaughtered in Algeria during July, 1911. 

 A subsequent examination of the fourth 

 stomachs of six dromedaries revealed numer- 

 ous specimens of this species hidden between 

 the folds of the mucosa, associated with 

 Hsemonchus contortus. While the description 

 of the specimens agrees in general with the 

 present writer's observations, the measure- 

 ments are all somewhat larger. The width 

 of the middle lateral wing (110 to 120 / as 

 given by Seurat) is over twice as great as 

 that given by the present writer, while the 

 vulva is described as located at the anterior 

 third of the body, instead of slightly posterior 

 of the middle, as described by Railliet and 

 Henry (191 Ib), Ciurea (1912), and Foster 

 (1912) (the present article). 



Seurat (1912) also found in the dromedary 

 another form which he considers as a variety 

 and designates as var. cristata. This form 

 is distinguished from the typical species by 

 having four longitudinal crests on the head, 

 formed by four cuticular folds, and having four cuticular spines in 

 the mouth cavity. In this variety the position of the vulva is not 

 constant, but varies from the posterior 

 third of the body to an anterior position. 

 As Seurat's (1912) measurements of 

 Physocephalus sexalatus differ considerably 

 from the present writer's, and as the species 

 has hitherto been reported only in the 

 Suidse, it would seem desirable to reserve 

 an opinion until his statements can be 

 confirmed. 



The stomach is the normal location for 

 Physocephalus sexalatus. Von Linstow 

 (1879b) reports Filaria strongylina as col- 

 lected from the small intestine of a hog 

 by Dr. V. Bering, of Stuttgart. As has 

 been shown, Von Linstow apparently con- 

 fused Physocephalus sexalatus with Ardu- 

 enna strongylina; it would seem there- 

 fore, that P. sexalatus may occasionally occur in the small intestine. 

 In most specimens examined by the author the cuticle of the head 

 appears as shown in fig. 18, which is closely similar to the form 



FIG. 23. Physocephalus sexalatus. 

 Lateral view of egg removed 

 from a ruptured uterus, a. c., 

 albuminous covering; emb., 

 embryo; sh., shell. X 1,450. 

 (Original.) 



FIG. 24. Physocephalus sexalatvt. 

 Bursa of male, ventral view. ad. p. , 

 adanal papillae; I. b. w., left bursal 

 wing; Z.sp.,longspicule; po. p., post- 

 anal papillae; pr. p., preanal papillae; 

 r. b. w., right bursal wing; s.sp., short 

 spicule. X280. (After Von Drasche, 

 1884a, Pl.XTV,flg.3.) 



