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latter." This puts a very different complexion on the matter, 

 seeing that the true nature of the alleged delicacy must 

 have been overlooked by those at least who first partook 

 of it. Stimulated to further enquiries I sought and found 

 Signor Brigand's original memoir in the Transactions of 

 the Royal Academy of Naples, bearing the date of 1819, 

 but probably issued somewhat later, since the work by 

 Rudolphi, from which I have quoted, bears the same date. 

 Be that as it may, Briganti remarks that he does not think 

 it need occasion any surprise that the Ligula edulis "eaten 

 with relish by not a few with the fish which contains it," 

 causes no injury whatever to their health. He further 

 remarks upon the not unpleasant flavour possessed by the 

 ligules, of which he had been assured, and says that he 

 willingly accepts that view, because the parasite is destitute 

 of any alimentary canal and does not contain any excre- 

 mentary matters. He refers to the nourishment derived by 

 the parasite from the juices of the contiguous viscera of the 

 host and to other circumstances ensuring its cleanliness. 

 Briganti's memoir, though often quoted second-hand, seems 

 to have been rarely consulted. He gives excellent illus- 

 trations. In his first plate he figures three fish of nearly 

 the natural size ; one showing the characteristically swollen 

 abdomen, especially in the region of the vent, and another 

 with the viscera exposed to show the position of the ligules. 

 In the second plate excellent figures are given of the worms 

 in various positions, from different media, the first six 

 examples being all removed from one of the fish (Cyprinus 

 lacustris). This small Cyprin inhabits Lake Palo, near 

 Contursi, and it was at the time regarded by Briganti as 

 new to science. I have thought it might be useful thus to 

 particularise Briganti's labours, although it is to Dr. 

 Duchamp's recent work that we are principally indebted 



