Fhtcher on the structure of Stephanurm dentatus, etc. 435 



Future observations, systematically carried out, ^vill doubtless 

 solve a good many of the questions "here mooted; and though 

 they may not lead to the suggestion of any means whereby 

 the "evil geniuses of the Passes" may at present be conjured, 

 a more precise knowledge of data, as well as of the statics and 

 dynamics of mudi may enable us to predict at what point of 

 advance of the mouths into the deeper water of the Gulf, their 

 formation must cease. The Southwest Pass appears to be 

 nearest that consummation devoutly to be wished ; and wxre 

 the closing of the other outlets practicable, the advance of the 

 Southwest bar might become so rapid, as to let the youngest 

 of the living generation witness a diminution of mudlump 

 upheaval Ultimately, the mouth might thus become similar 

 to those of the Orinoco and Amazon ; but until then, ceaseless 

 activity of the river in the formation of bars and mudlumps 

 nuist, in the interest of navigation and commerce, be met 

 oy an equally ceaseless and diligent effort for their removal 

 from the channel. For while a concentration of the river cur- 

 rent might possibly be made to maintain the needful depth upon 

 the bars, its utmost erosive energy will be powerless against the 

 tough, inert masses of the mudlumps. 



Art. J.Xlll.-~ Observations on the Structure and habitat of the 

 hanurus dentatus Diesing, or Sclerostmna pinguicola Ver- 

 by Wm. B. Fletcher, M.D. 



rill-t 



injurious in this country, 



tention until 1870, when Prof VerriU, from imperfect specimens, 

 ^^TA^ name and suggested its importance to the agricultural 



♦Subsequent to the publication of my descriptions of this species in the Report 

 Ifo,,' ^"°°ecticut Board of Agriculture for 1870, and this Journal, vol. L p. 223, 

 ^s 0? 1°T'' apparently of fhe same worm, byDr. J. C. TVTxite in the Proceed- 

 Whiu ,!r .P^ Society of Natural History, vol. vi, p. 4-28 Dec, lHo». JJr. 

 (um R,./f ''.'^ '^ doubtfully to Stephanurns dentatus Dies, or Sclerostomum denta- 

 oZinl ^^-^ ''^^n'ification that is still quite doubtful) and gave an account of its 



Rr nliX , ""y^^^ in tue leaf-lard of a hog, a male ana lemaie logeiue.. 



^ST^- ^£?'/re^'±i of several additional cases in ^ew 

 of thetf f^r^ ^°^^^^e I obtained a number of fine specimens from a porjon 

 °<*upiedt^''^ .taken f^^" « ^og raised in Litchfield county, m thia state. They 

 tiaUy'fitte/^f ^^'^ cavities%r cysts, somethnes over an mch lo"? ^^ p^^ 

 Wa u«u iir '^^'"^' disagreeable pus, in which there were °™if P^'/ff '; „ i^l 

 oth. "!";'% contained a m«l« .r^/faL^}^ worm, but some coatamed three and 



