THE GAPE-WORM. 73 



The food of these parasitic worms is chiefly the 

 organic juices of the body. Some, the so-called 

 Hsematozoa, live on the blood ; the majority, how- 

 ever, on alimentary fluids. 



Tenacity of Life. 



One point is of great importance regarding these 

 round worms, and this is that in the egg (and en- 

 cysted stage] thev can remain for a great length of 

 time undeveloped, awaiting favourable opportunities 

 for the propagation of the species. 



Number of Species infesting Fowls, 

 At least eighteen species have been recorded 

 from the Fowl in various parts of the world. Of 

 these, seven only seem to have been met with in 

 England and thirteen in Europe. The only im- 

 portant genera, pathologically, are Syngamus and 

 Heterakis, the former being parasites of the respira- 

 tory system, the latter of the alimentary system: 

 others producing morbid effects will be briefly referred 

 to in this article. Gapes being by far the most im- 

 portant vermiceous infestation, we will deal fully with 

 that first. 



The Gape-worm. 

 = Red Womi or Forked Worm. 



[Syngamus trachealis, Siebold.) 



The peculiar symptoms of this parasitic disease 

 render its detection an easy matter. It is often an 



