VERMES. 93 



2. ASCARIS GADI. Plate X. fig. 28. 



Ten or a dozen of these animals were sent to me by Mr Mather, a 

 skilful miniature painter in Edinburgh. They had been just taken from 

 the stomach of a cod, which contained two middle sized haddocks besides. 

 1 have seen none exceeding their dimensions, the largest extending two 

 inches and a quarter, by about the third of a line in the middle, where 

 thickest. The body tapers to each extremity, the head being the smaller. 

 Externally, they seemed quite smooth, and of a yellowish or cream colour 

 throughout. Their vivacity precluded the use of the microscope. But, 

 under a lens, some internal organization was obscurely perceptible through 

 the skin. 



None survived the eighth day in sea- water. 



PLATE X. 



FIGS. 28, 29. Ascaris gadl. 



3. ASCARIS LEONIS. Plate X. figs. 30, 31. 



A fine young lion, promising to be of docile disposition, in the Edin- 

 burgh Zoological Gardens, apparently quite healthful, was seized with 

 convulsions, September 1. 1840, in which it died on the subsequent day. 

 No obvious cause could be assigned for its death. But on dissection, mul- 

 titudes of Ascarides were found in the intestines, for some of which, while 

 alive, I was indebted to Dr Dumbreck, who has always paid much useful 

 attention to the wild animals of that establishment. 



These Ascarides extended fifteen or sixteen lines ; the body cylindri- 

 cal, about the fourth of a line in diameter, and tapering to either ex- 

 tremity. They were quite smooth, of a brownish-yellow colour, exhibit- 

 ing no peculiarities, but the wonted rigidity of the genus. Some con- 

 signed to spirit of wine were converted to pure white next day. 



None of the various Ascarides I have seen have been distinguished 

 by any noted or conspicuous difference. 



PLATE X. 



FIGS. 30, 31. Ascaris leonis. 



