i 
1038 The American Naturalist. [December 
In regard to the position of this worm in the classification, Ward be- 
lieves that it is more closely allied to Gordius than to any other known 
nematode. The general structure, the ventral nerve cord, the anal 
ganglion, the absence of lateral lines, and the dorsal position of the 
sexual organs, together with the terminal openings of the same, all tend 
to support this view. 
For other interesting details in regard to Nectonema, we must refet 
to the original article. At the same time we wish to call attention to 
the American Gordiide and Mermithide which would afford a most 
interesting and valuable field for scientific work. They should be 
worked up from the systematic, embryological and anatomical 
standpoints, and the reviewer thinks, judging from the admirable way 
in which Dr. Ward has studied this closely allied form Nectonema, that 
Ward is in an especially good position to revise these two families. 
Reviewer would hence take the liberty of suggesting the revision to 
Dr. Ward as a field for future investigation —C. W. 8. 
Linton on Entozoa.’—Dr. Linton has recently published the re- 
sults of his studies on the following parasites of birds : 
1. Filaria serrata sp. n. is described from the intestine of Circus 
cyaneus hudsonius. The description is based upon a single male speci- 
men, and is very incomplete. In the figures of the head two slings 
are drawn, which, if the drawing is correct, would probably place the 
species in the genus Dispharagus. But as Linton does not make any 
statements in regard to the cesophagus, the original material must be 
re-examined to determine this point. e 
2. Ascaris spiculigera R. was found in Pelecanus erythrorhynehus. 
3. Echinorhynchus rectus sp. n. is described from Larus sp. eoo 
4. E. striatus Goeze was found in the intestine of Oedemia americana. 
5. Holostomum variabile Nitzsch, found in several species of birds. 
6. Distomum (f) verrucosum sp. n. Under this name the author de- 
scribes a fluke found in the intestine of Larus californicus. As basis 
for the deseription, Linton had one entire specimen and a fragment of 
a second specimen. Unfortunately, he has made the mistake to start 5 
with, of choosing a specific name which has already been applied to 
three other species of the same genus (D. verrucosum Molin, from 
Labrax lupus; D. verrucosum Poirier, from Thynnus vulgaris, and = 
verrucosum Busch, from Ophidium barbatum). Von Linstow oe : 
these three in his Nachtrag (Compendium der Helminthologie,) as differ- 
ent species. I have not the articles at hand at present, so cannot state 
* Notes on Avian Entozoa (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. xi, pp- 87-118, Pls.iv-vi7 
