CARNIVORA 307 



itch-insect. In the wolf and fox, however, the same species 

 forms well-marked varieties (S. scabiei, var. lupi and var. 

 vulpis) . As regards true insect parasites and tormentors of the 

 dog, I can only allude to a few of them, In tropical America 

 dogs are said to be attacked by the larvae of a species of gad- 

 fly (CEstrus canis), whilst in Africa they are often fatally bitten 

 by the tsetse (Glossina morsitans). In addition to the flies 

 (Diptera), several kinds of fleas (Aphaniptera) frequently prove 

 troublesome (Pulex canis, P. martis, and P. penetrans), and the 

 same may be said of certain lice (Hemiptera). The common 

 louse of the dog (TricJiodectes latus) proves especially noxious 

 to young puppies. Of the two other species, namely, Hcemato- 

 pinus piliferus and H. canis, the former is tolerably common, 

 whilst the latter is comparatively rare. This species is also 

 found on the ferret. A new form of mite (Chorioptes ecaudatus), 

 infesting the ears of the ferret, has recently been described by 

 M. Megnin. 



I have already referred to several of the parasites of the cat- 

 tribe (Felidae), but some others require notice. Only two 

 flukes (Amphistoma truncatum and Hemistoma cordatum) have 

 been described as infesting the cat. Of the tapeworms, Taenia 

 crassicollis is the best known. This is derived from Cysticercus 

 fasciolaris of the mouse and rat. It is not uncommon to find 

 this scolex in the sexually- immature tasnioid state in the liver, 

 measuring six or seven inches in length. An exceedingly 

 interesting communication by Dr Romano, of Gemona (Frioul), 

 demonstrates the possibility of severe feline epizooty as due to 

 this entozoon. As I gather from an account given in the journal 

 quoted below, " during the summer of 1876, Dr Romano was 

 informed by his confrere Dr Leoncini, a physician practising at 

 Osoppo, that for about a fortnight most of the cats in a certain 

 hamlet of the town had died without appreciable cause after 

 presenting the following symptoms : Gradual wasting, with 

 complete loss of appetite, retracted abdomen, slight diarrhoea 

 at first, then constipation, abundant saliva, contraction of the 

 elevating muscles of the upper lip in some subjects, great pros- 

 tration of strength, loss of the visual faculty. Some of the 

 feline patients no longer heard or appeared no longer to hear 

 their master's voice ; some vomited and seemed to experience 

 relief, for the appetite improved, but they soon died like the 

 others. Nervous phenomena, epileptiform convulsions, and more 

 frequently colic, also showed themselves. Having visited the 



