MAESUPIALTA 433 



quica) have been found to harbor a species of ligula (L. reptans, 

 Diesing) in the sexually-immature state. Lastly, I find in 

 Bancrofts collection several tapeworms obtained from that 

 small and interesting monotreme marsupial commonly known 

 as the Australian hedgehog, echidna, or porcupine ant-eater of 

 the colonists (Tachyglossus setosus). The strobiles, which are 

 nearly perfect, average three inches in length, and are made of 

 very narrow and closely-set proglottides. This species is evi- 

 dently new to science, and as such I propose to call it Tania 

 phoptica, in allusion to its thick- set appearance and its conse- 

 quent burdensome character to the bearer. The largest pro- 

 glottides measure fully f" in width. There can be little doubt 

 that the presence of any considerable number of such compara- 

 tively large tapeworms must seriously incommode, if they do 

 not actually prove fatal to their unfortunate hosts. 



So far as regards mere variety of species, the nematode 

 fauna of marsupials is probably far in excess of that of the 

 trematodes and cestodes. I cannot therefore do much more 

 than enumerate the species. The Hunterian Museum of the 

 Royal College of Surgeons contains the original " worms found 

 alive within the capsular ligaments of the knee-joint of a 

 kangaroo," which have been indicated as Filaria macropodis 

 gigantei. It would, in my opinion, be far better to call the 

 worm, after its discoverer, Webster's filaria (F. Websteri). Dr 

 Bancroft has likewise encountered this same parasite in the great 

 kangaroo. From the abdominal cavity of a wallaby Leidy has 

 also obtained a filaria (F. spelcea). The American opossums 

 (Didelphys) are much infested by Ascaris tentaculata, which is 

 found in the caocum, and many of them also harbor a small 

 whipworm (Trichocephalus minutus). Another tolerably abun- 

 dant nematode (Physaloptera, turgida) was obtained by Natterer 

 from the stomach of Didelphys azara, D. myosurus, and I). 

 cancrivora. The only other nematode mentioned in Uiesing's 

 f Systema' is Aspidocephalus scoleciformis. This is found in 

 D. murina, and D. domestica. From the opossum of the 

 United States (D. virginiana) Prof. Leidy has also obtained 

 Asc. tentaculafa, Trichocephalus minutus, and Physaloptera (Spi- 

 roptera) turgida. According to Molin there are grounds for 

 separating some of these stomach-worms into distinct species. 

 Thus, he has recognised the examples found by Natterer 

 in Didelphys myosurus as belonging to the genus Histiocephalus, 

 as emended by himself. If the separation be allowed, then we 



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