BUSTRONGYLUS GIGAS. 369 



by Kiiclienmeister and Davaine. All of tliem recognise a well- 

 defined nervous system ; but farther researches are needed to explain 

 away certain discrepancies in their writings, and especially also in 

 regard to the water-vascular system, the very existence of which (in 

 nematodes generally) is, I believe, denied by Dr. Williams of Swan- 

 sea. According to the description given by Davaine, " the integu- 

 ment of the female is thick, fibrous, and bordered internally by a 

 layer of rounded and denticulated papillee. The intestine is large, 

 blackish, apparently very thin, and attached to the integuments on 

 either side by cellular or muscular bands. The free extremity of 





. '^1 





Fig. 76. — Kidney of the Coati {Nasua socialis), with Hustrongylus gigas coiled within the pelvic 



cavity. — Leuckart. 



the ovary or the testicle (in the male) is fixed near the anus. The 

 ovary and oviduct, which are continued from it, or the testicle and 

 vas deferens forming a simple tube, are directed forward from that 

 point to within a certain distance from the head, and are supported 

 throughout their course by the bands which connect the integu- 

 ments with the intestine. The genital tube subsequently frees itself 

 and makes a great number of convolutions in the general cavity of 

 the body, but without twisting itself round the digestive tube, 

 which latter is attached to the parietes throughout its entire 



