OtJR DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 



11 



fact of any practical importance ; and when the dearly- 

 purchased truth is at length enunciated, it is soon bandied 

 about, without the smallest concern respecting either the 

 toiler or the toils which together gave it birth. 



There is another little trematode parasite liable to 

 occur in considerable abundance in the ox, but which, on 

 account of its small size, is frequently overlooked. This 

 is the lancet-shaped fluke. When full grown, this species 

 (Distoma lanceolatum) measures rather more than three- 



Fig. 3. Lancet-shaped Fluke. 



eighths of an inch in length, its breadth being somewhat 

 less than two lines. Like most of the flukes, it is a true 

 hermaphrodite, and, as seen in the accompanying figure, 

 also reduced from Blanchard, the transparency of the 

 body readily permits of our recognising the reproductive 

 organs in their natural positions. With the exception of 

 the oral sucker, and the short tube passing from it in a 

 downward direction to form the two simple and blind 



