REPTILIAN TAPEWORMS. 255 



anywhere a lumen in this cord of cells. That fact, nevertheless, 

 can hardly be regarded as militating against the view that I take 

 of their nature. Following this series of sections to which I have 

 just referred onwards the cord of cells ceases absolutely, and the 

 uterus is to be seen as a circular cavity lying some way away 

 from the subcuticular layer. Very soon, however, it grows out 

 towards the cuticle with a lumen throughout which reaches the 

 subcuticular layer. There is no obvious suggestion here of a 

 duct. In fact, the condition of the ripe uterus in Solenotcenia is 

 not altogether easy of compai-ison in detail with that of Ophido- 

 tcenia. 



Text-fig. 52. 





''•: ' « v,j 



(.««*- •»'^, 

 w 



J 



Two nearly consecutive sections through unripe uterus of Solenotcenia viperis 

 showing (in the left-hand figure) a rudimentary external pore. The lateral, 

 thickenings of the uterine tube are probably the commencement of the lateral 

 diverticula. 



The above facts in the structure of the uterus of Solenotcenia 

 show clearly that it is to be referred to the same type as that 

 which characterises the genus Ophidotcenia, differing therefore 

 from that of Icldhyotcenia sensu stricto, though one species of 

 Ichthyotcenia, I. gabonica, shows certain points of likeness to both. 

 It is possible, however, that in a revision of the family Ichthyo- 

 tyeniidse, Ichthyotcenia gabonica may ultimately be given generic 

 rank. The resemblance, however, is somewhat masked by the 

 artificial opening of the uterus, presumably caused by splitting 

 along a ventral line where the uterus, then swollen with eggs, 

 approaches close to the integument. The slit thus formed is not 

 exactly a concrescence of numerous uterine pores, of which, how- 

 ever, there are plenty of traces in Solenotcenia ; it is largely 

 independent of them — perhaps altogether so. On the other hand, 



