732 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14] 



Europe, Cottus, Seorpius, Gadus, Pleuronectes, Trigla, Rhombus, etc. 

 Eleven species of European fish are enumerated by Diesing as harbor- 

 ing this parasite. It has been recorded in this country by Dr. Leidy in 

 Platessa plana (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). 



I refer to this species two lots of Dibothria obtained from the intes- 

 tines of the spotted sand flounder (Lophopsetta maculata) and the 

 sand dab (Limanda ferruginea). The first lot containing one complete 

 specimen and a few fragments of others, with a few cestoid cysts from 

 the peritoneum, was the sole result of an examination of seven floun- 

 ders. In the second lot about a dozen fish were examined, nearly all of 

 which were infested with an echiuorhynchus (E. acns). These fish 

 were taken with the trawl by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Fish 

 Hawk, south of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, in about 12 fathoms 

 of water. Their stomachs contained several species of Annelids, frag- 

 ments of Squilla, and several specimens of a species of Margarita. 



The sketches of the living worm (Figs. 1 and 2) were made from the 

 specimen obtained from L. maculata. Its dimensions while living were 

 as follows : 



Millimeters. 



Length 200.00 



Length of head 2. 40 



Breadth of head at apex 0. 24 



Breadth of head, middle 0.42 



Breadth of head, base 0. 22 



Breadth of first segment at anterior margin 0.20 



Breadth of first segment at posterior margin 0. 24 



Length of first segment 0. 36 



Breadth of one of posterior segments 2. 60 



Length of same 1.20 



Associated with this specimen, and doubtless belonging to it, was a 

 chain of mature segments, each of which was about 2.1 mm in length and 

 l ram in breadth. 



The head of the living worm showed little tendency to change its 

 shape. It maintained constantly the proportions shown in Figs. 1, 2. 



It is rather flat, broadest in the middle, and tapers uniformly with 

 convex margins toward each end. It is terminated in front by a slightly 

 tumid apex. The base of the head continues in a short neck-like part, 

 which has a projecting border on the posterior edge like that of the 

 segments. The marginal pits are quite deep. In front they extend to 

 the tumid apicular part. They terminate behind at about the posterior 

 fourth or fifth of the entire length of the head, leaving a short, con- 

 stricted neck-like part. 



The only motion observed was a slow change in the edges of the 

 bothria, which at times were nearly parallel and at others were pro- 

 foundly crenulated. In active specimens they are evidently capable 

 of assuming very various shapes. 



After having been preserved in alcohol the head is of nearly uniform 

 breadth throughout. It is slender and arcuate, measuring 1.8 mm in 



