AYES 445 



with its mate beyond the period of copulation ; here, thus, 

 there is a continuous union of the sexes without a growing 

 together ; and in Syngamus trachealis there is ultimately a lasting 

 continuity of the sexes by means of an actual growing together." 

 Having confidence in Yon Siebold's statement, I concluded that 

 the sexual union in my specimens had only recently been 

 effected. Admitting this to have been the case, one naturally 

 asks how the mature eggs can make their escape. Clearly, the 

 eggs can only escape by an eventual breaking up of the body 

 of the parent. The eggs of Sclerostoma syngamus are com- 

 paratively large, measuring ^' in length. Many of the ova 

 contained fully formed embryos, and in the centre of the lower 

 third of the body of one of them I perceived an undulating, 

 imperfectly formed intestinal tube. By whatever mode the 

 young escape the shell, it is clear that they are already suffi- 

 ciently developed to undertake an active migration. A change 

 of hosts is probably necessary, but in the first instance they 

 either enter the substance of fungi or other vegetable matters, 

 or they bury themselves in the soil at a short distance from the 

 surface. In view of checking the destructive influences of this 

 parasite, the following methods have been recommended. 



First. The simplest plan consists, as Dr Wiesenthal long ago 

 pointed out, in stripping a feather from the tube to near the 

 narrow end of the shaft, leaving only a few uninjured webs at 

 the tip. The bird being secured, the webbed extremity of the 

 feather is introduced into the windpipe. It is then twisted 

 round a few times and withdrawn, when the worms are found 

 attached. In some instances this plan succeeds entirely. 



Secondly. The above method is rendered more effectual when 

 the feather is previously steeped in some medicated solution 

 which will destroy the worms. Mr Bartlett employs salt for 

 this purpose, or a weak infusion of tobacco ; and he informs 

 me that the simple application of turpentine to the throat 

 externally is sufficient to kill the worms. It should be borne 

 in mind that the bird itself may be injuriously affected by these 

 drugs if they are carelessly employed. 



Thirdly. The treatment recommended by Mr Montagu 

 proved successful in his hands, although the infested birds were 

 old partridges. One of his birds had died of suffocation ; but 

 he tells us that " change of food and change of place, together 

 with the infusion of rue and garlic, instead of plain water, to 

 drink, and chiefly hemp-seed, independent of the green vege- 



