BY VERA IRWIN-SMITH. 57 



PiiYSALOPTERA VARANi Pfirona, 1890. 

 Synonyms. — Pliysaloptera paradoxa Linstow, 1908; Pbysaloptera quadrovaria 

 Leiper," 1908. 



Head without lateral euticular expansions. External labial tooth cuneiform, 

 truncated. Labial papillae very small. Caudal extremity of female obtuse, anus 

 nearly apical. Vulva opening behind the termination of oesophagus; ovijeetor 

 elongated (3 mm.), unpaired trunk of uterus very short, divided directly into 

 four branches, which terminate in seminal receptacles; these marked off from 

 oviducts by deep constrictions, but nassina: gi-adually into the uteri. Ova brown 

 coloured. Caudal pores in female very apparent just beyond middle of tail, 

 opening in a euticular depression bordered by a thick ring; in male situated 

 midway between third and fourth pairs of post-anal papillae. Cloaca bounded 

 by two prominent lips; euticular knobs surrounding it often ornamented with 

 little spurs. P're-anal unpaired papilla oval, the paired papillae round. For 

 arrangement of papillae see figure. Measurements as given in table. 



In the above diagnosis, use has been made of the accounts given by Seurat, 

 in conjunction with Parona's original description. The details of the female 

 genital system are taken from the description of Physaloptera paradoxa by Seurat 

 (1914). He subsequently (1917) classed both this and P. quadrovaria as 

 synonyms of P. varani. As I have not had an opportunity of seeing the original 

 description of P. paradoxa, I have accepted Seurat's authority for the synonymy. 

 But it will be seen, from the two figures given, that the caudal bursa of P. 

 varani, as shown by Parona, differs both in the number and axrangement of 

 papillae from that of P. paradoxa as figured by Seurat. However, this is a 

 feature in which mistakes of observation readily occur, and Seurat himself, in 

 his second description, amends his first statement that six pairs of post-anal 

 papillae occur, one of the pairs proving to be caudal pores. 



The only description supplied by Leiper for P. quadrovaria is that "the 

 vaginal canal is formed by the fusion of four distinct ovarian tubes," and a 

 diagram, which indicates that the mode of division is similar to that described 

 for P. paradoxa. 



Physaloptera Antarctica Linstow, 1899. 



? Synonym. — Physaloptera alba Stossich, 1902. 



Skin very thick. Lips hemispherical, each surmounted by a conical tooth, 

 with two small adjacent teeth on the inner side. Body stout and elongated. Tail, 

 in male, one twenty-third, in female, one fifty-fourth as long as entire body. 

 Female tail conical, with rounded point. Eggs with very thick shell. Largo 

 eloacal aperture, circular in outline. The four pairs of external papillae pos- 

 sessing long stalks. For details of caudal bursa see figure. Measurements as 

 given in table. 



Linstow's description is too brief for a good specific diagnosis, but enough 

 to show a close agreement with the Physaloptera alba described by Stossich. 



Physaloptera alba Stossich, 1902. 



Lips feebly developed, each produced into two big submedian papillae. Teeth 

 very weak. Female tail conical. Vulva opening at anterior third of body 

 length. Eggs enclosed in a very thick hyaline shell. Male caudal bursa as shown X^ V 

 in figure. Stalks of the four pairs of external papillae long. Measurements as/'v> 

 given in table. /co - - -- >— 



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