ON THE PARASITE MINCHINIA. 445 



34. Mhichihia : A Haplosporidian. Bj Helen L. M. 

 PiXELL-GoODKiCH, B.Sc, Beit Memorial Research 

 Fellow *. 



[Received April 9, 1915 : Read May 11, 1915.] 

 (Plates I. & Il.t) 



The genus Minohiiiia (Labbe) undoubtedly belongs to the 

 Haplosporidia, although it has invariably been placed among the 

 Coccidia. Schaudinn (17, p. 276) went so far as to include the 

 genus in that of Adelea, and in this he was followed, tentatively 

 only, by Doflein (7, p. 744). 



Minchinia chitonis Lankester is the only well-established 

 species ; other so-called species will be dealt with la,ter. This 

 parasite was first recorded so long ago as 1885 by Lankester (11, 

 fig. 12), who found it in the hver of CJdton and gave a drawing 

 of the spore under the name of Klossia chitonis. Labbe (9) ex- 

 amined the same parasite in 1896, and, recognising its distinctive 

 characteristics, made it the type species of a new genus, which he 

 na.med Minchinia in honour of Prof. Minchin. The spore has a 

 thick chitinous coat and an outer membranous envelope produced 

 into a long tail at either end. 



In 1897 Leger (13) described a new Coccidian Barroussia 

 cxudata whose spore was said to be provided with a long tail at 

 one of its poles, though, so far as I can make out, it has never 

 been figured. Ln a subsequent communication Leger (14, p. 7 

 footnote) pointed out that this form, parasitic in Lithobius martini, 

 had afTinities with Minchinia, though he did not recommend 

 connecting the two forms. In spite of this, Labbe in 1899 (10) 

 included this species of JBarroiossia in his new genus as Minchinia 

 caudata. In 1898 Leger (15) described the flagellated micro- 

 gamete belonging to this species, which is undoubtedly Coccidian 

 in type. Therefore Barroussia caiodata, a true Coccidian, is no 

 longer to be inchided in the genus Minchinia. 



Patella and Trochus were also given by Labbe as hosts of 

 Minchinia, although he seemed undecided whether or not these 

 contained the same species as Chiton. ISTo figures of these 

 parasites were given except one of a trophozoite from Patella 

 which appears to be Coccidian in character. Therefore it seems 

 likely that this Patella parasite may also turn out to have no 

 relationship with Minchinia. The specimens of Patella and 

 Trochus that I have examined have not been infected at all, 

 although some specimens have been taken from exactly the same 

 locality as infected Chiton. 



* Communicated by the Secretary. 



t For explanation of the PJates see p. 456. 



