1893.] DE. p. soysrsfo on distomes. 499 



embryo alive and s^\^Inmmg in water, but only the embryo coming 

 out from the shell by pressure. In this case the embryo has 

 always died and has often presented the body spoiled and without 

 the ciliar tegument, so that I was only once able to observe a 

 specimen with the cUia in motion. 



Flukes of Exotic Snakes. 



In a bottle in the collection of parasitic worms in the Museum 

 of Pisa I found, in 1890, a Distomum obtained from the renal 

 pelvis of Python moluriis. I described it under the name of Dis- 

 tomum simile \ regarding it as a new species, resembling in size and 

 structure D. lanceolatum, with the exception that the two testes, 

 instead of being anterior to the ovary, were situated behind 

 that organ. Other examples of a similar Distome, obtained from 

 the liver of an animal of the same species, I thought, but could 

 not be certain, owing to decomposition of the specimens, might also 

 be Distomum simile. At the time I could not compare Distomum 

 simile with the Distomum liorriduui of Leidy, because I had not 

 access to Leidy's description. But lately, through the kindness of 

 Dr. StUes, I have received a specimen of Leidy's Distomum Jior- 

 ridum (obtained from a Boa Constrictor), and from this I have 

 been able to satisfy myself of the identity of D. simile aud D. Jior- 

 ridum. I have since read Leidy's paper - describing the parasite, 

 and although in some respects his description is somewhat in- 

 correct, as he speaks of four testes instead of two, and of viteUaria 

 as ovaria, I can recognize in it the identity of Distomum simile 

 with Distomum horridum. 



Another species which appears very similar to D. horridum is 

 the D. sauromatis, described as new by M. J. Poirier. The prin- 

 cipal difference between D. simile and D. horridum on the one hand, 

 and D. sauromatis on the other, is that in the latter the two testes 

 are lobate instead of being round as in the former. This variation 

 is so slight that it may merely depend on the chverse habitats of 

 the individuals and not on difference of species. I cannot, how- 

 ever, definitely pronounce on this point, not having at hand a 

 specimen of Poirier's Distomum, which Uves in the lungs of Elajihis 

 sauromates. But the identity of Distomum simile with D. horndum 

 is very interesting, as it shows that the same species of Distomum 

 hves in two different species of Snakes inhabiting different 

 countries. 



Distomum baeaidii. 



Distomum haraldii is a parasite which I have lately described as 

 a new species found in Zamenis viridijlavus^, and which I have 



^ See ' Proeessi verbali della Societa Toseana di Bcienze natural! residente iu 

 Pisa,' Adun, 4 Maggio, 1890. 



^ Journal Acad. Natur. Sciences, series 2, i. p. 303 (Philadelphia). 



^ D. baraldii, given by me as a new species, may prove to be identical with 

 Distomum nigrovenosicm, Bellingham, found in Tropidonotus natrix. At least 

 my new species much resembles the description and figure given by my friend 

 Dr. Monticelli of Bellingham's fluke in an unpublished paper with which I have 

 made acquaintance by the author's kindness. 



