630 



other species recorded for ducks, and with other avian, tape- 

 worms possessing- 10 hooks on the head an'd unilateral genital 

 pores, and concluded that liosseter's cestode represented the 

 type (E. Rosseteri R. Bl.) of a new genus (Echinocotyle R. Bl.). 

 He added that Rosseter had recently informed him that he 

 had sometime previous to the discovery of the cysticercoid 

 placed some ducks imported from Calcutta on the pond in 

 which he had discovered the parasites; upon making- an au- 

 topsy on one of these ducks Rosseter found it infested with 

 Echinocotyle. Blanchard concluded from this that the Bengal 

 ducks imported the parasites with them and infected the pond 

 in question. Blanchard discusses the adult worm, and from 

 this description the specific diagnosis given above is written. 

 Rosseter (1892, pp. 361-366, Pis. XXII-XXIII) again discusses 

 this species and fig'ures it. 



Regarding the supposed introduction of this parasite into 

 England by ducks fro^m Calcutta, the idea advanced by Blan- 

 chard seeims very plausible. At the same time however, Blan- 

 chard states (p. 424) that neither he nor Rosseter have been 

 able to examine any adult specimens. Now, had the Bengal 

 ducks brought the parasites with them, would not the duck 

 examined by Rosseter have been infested, in all probability, 

 with the adult form, although they unquestionably could also 

 have become infected -with a new generation from the crusta- 

 ceans? I hardly see why the fact that two Bengal ducks were 

 placed upon this pond a short time before Rosseter discovered 

 the parasites in the crustaceans bears anything more than a 

 possible (but not necessary or probable) connection with the 

 presence of this species in England; the parasite has not yet 

 been recorded from Bengal. 



Genus OPHRTOCOTTLE Frlis, 1869. 

 [PI. XIX, figs. 252-2&5."l 



Diagnosis: Head enlarged anteriorily, without rostellum, but 

 with several infundibula whose borders are armed with a very 

 large number of small hooks; suckers armed with several 

 transverse rows of hooks; genital pores irreg-ularly alternate. 

 Tj-'pe species: O. proteus Friis. 1S69. Development unknown. 



Hosts: Birds. 



No mcinlKM-s of this genus are kiiown from ddiiK's- 

 tieated birds ov fi'om veiy closely allied wild birds, 



