THE InEMATODE FAMILY GNATHOSTOMID^. 



293 



h. The spines iraniediately Leliind the head-l)ull) leaf- 

 like, having five points, one at the tip and two 



along eithei' side G-. gracile (p. 300). 



G. horridam and G-. turgidum are too insufficiently described 

 to be capable of inclusion in a key. 



1. GnathostOx\ia spiNiGEiiuM Owen, 1836. (Text-figs. 37-40; 

 PI. VII. figs. 29-32 ; PL YIII. figs. 33-38). 



Gnathostoma sj^inigerum Owen (1836, p. 125). 



Cheir acanthus rohustus Diesing (1838, p. 189) [iiomen nudum']. 



C heir acanthus rohustus Diesing (1839, p. 222; pl. xiv. 



figs. 1-7, pl. xvi. figs. 1-24). 

 Chelracanthus socialis Leidy (1859, p. 25). 

 Filaria radula Schneider (1866, p. 98 ; pl. vi. figs. 9 «, 9 6). 

 Gheiracanthus siamensis Levinsen (1889, p. 323; pl. vii. 



figs. 9-14). 

 Gnathostoma paronai Porta (1908, p. 8). 

 Gnathostomum spinigerum Mitter (1912, p. 150 ; pl. v.). 



The contradictory and incomplete character of existing 

 descriptions of this nematode, and the consequent unnecessary 

 multiplication of species, fully justify its redescription. 



Text-figure 37. 



I. 



Gnathostoma spinigerum. Anterior end; dorsal (or ventral) view (surface). 



The specimens now desci'ibed are from Felis parclus and were 

 received in part from the Yeterinary College, Belgachia, Calcutta, 

 where they were collected by the late Mr. S. N. Mitter, and in 

 part from the Parel Laboratory, Bombay. In each case the 

 worms had produced fatal perforation of the gastidc wall. 



In this species the cuticle lining the inner aspect of each lobe 

 of either lip is longitudinally thickened into a ridge which meets 

 its fellow of the opposite side. In our specimens the head-bidb 



* For specific diagnosis, see p. 298. 



20* 



