626 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON 



In the opinion of the exhibitors, the Microsporidian parasite, 

 Nosema apis, had been responsible for much of the bee-disease 

 recorded in this country since 1906, especially in 1906, 1907, and 

 1911. The exhibitors first noticed the parasite in 1906 iu 

 diseased bees obtained from the Isle of Wight ; its full significance 

 was grasped in 1907, but owing to the difficulty of obtaining 

 material the exhibitors' results were not published. As much 

 attention was now being directed to " bee-disease," the exhibitors 

 briefly recorded their observations. It was not asserted that 

 microsporidiosis was the only disease of bees current in Great 

 Britain at present, as Dr. Maiden had investigated a bacillary 

 infection in bees, the parasite being called Bacillus jJestiformis 

 apis. " Foul brood " also was a well-known and separate disease. 



Microsporidiosis (due to Nosema apis) had probably been 

 introduced from the Continent into British apiaries. 



Other parasites found in bees — chiefly in the gut — by the 

 exhibitors were various species of Gregai'ines, a, Flagellate 

 apparently belonging to the genus Critkidia, a new Amoeba 

 (Entamoeba ajns) very like Entamoeba coli of the human intestine, 

 a Spirochsete, and various Fungi. 



PAPERS. 



29. Contributions to the Anatomy and Systematic Arrange- 

 ment of the Cestoidea. By Frank E. Beddard, M.A., 

 F.R.S., F.Z.S., Prosector to the Society. 



[Received and Read April 4th, 1911.] 



(Text-figures 148-159.) 



I. On some Mammalian Cestoidea. 



I propose to communicate to the Society from time to time 

 reports upon the species of Cestoidea which have been collected, 

 and are being at present collected, from animals which have 

 died in the Society's Gardens. The collection in my hands is the 

 result of neai'ly two years' examination of (necessarily) a great 

 number of animals, but does not contain as yet a very large 

 number of species, either of known forms or of those which 

 I believe to be undescribed. Tapeworms are by no means so 

 common as other parasitic worms, particularly I^ematodes, which 

 are most abundant among the animals in the Gardens. Of 

 the forms which I have identified as belonging to well-known 

 species, I propose at some date to give a complete list, which will 

 be useful, not only as indicating the species which are most 

 abundant in the captive animals, but as extending the i-ange of 

 hosts. At present I could hardly give a long enough list to 



