'21 



TERRA NOVA" EXPEDITION. 



one species of Echinorhynchiis. This seal was young and immature, and comparatively 

 free from parasites. 



The birds in the McMurdo Sound Quadrant of the Antarctic Circle appear to have 

 exceedingly few parasites. They were as follows : — The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes 

 forsteri) provided a very interesting Cestode and several larval forms. In the majority 

 of Emperor Penguins, on opening the abdomen, a considerable degree of peritonitis, 

 both recent and old, was discovered. The peritoneal surface of the alimentary canal 

 was covered in places with hard, elastic and fibrinous cysts containing Cestodes, larval 

 and mature. The walls of these cysts were composed of all the elements of the normal 

 gut-wall. Within these were the heads of the Cestodes, while the strobila of the 

 worm hung within the gut-cavity. The canal connecting the cyst-cavity and the gut 

 varied in length and direction. 



The number of the occupants of the cyst varied. If the}^ were immature there 

 were several, if mature only a single worm. 



The Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adelice) was very disappointing. The many 

 specimens caught provided only a few small Cestodes, otherwise they were free from 

 Entozoa. The range of those caught was from Lat. 69° 8. to Lat. 77° 38' S. 



McCormick's Skua (Megalestris maccormichi) supplied one Cestode, Tetrabothrius 

 cylindraceus. These birds feed largely on the blubber of dead seals, preferring it to 

 any other part. In this blubber there are often cysts of Cestodes. These, unfortunately, 

 could not be brought back, as they were observed when we were away from the base 

 and without facilities, but their occurrence has been noted by Dr. W. S. Bruce, 

 Commander of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-04. 



The Giant Petrel ( Ossifrdga gigantea) was only an occasional visitor during the 

 summer, and of those caught and examined none contained parasitic worms. 



The method of fixing and preserving the material was as follows : — 



Trematodes were placed in a test-tube with water ; they were given one or 

 two sharp downward shakes to make them elongate, and then an equal quantity of a 

 saturated solution of corrosive sublimate in water was added rapidly. After washing 

 they were preserved in 70 per cent, alcohol. 



Cestodes were fixed by means of Gilson's fluid, and were afterwards washed, and 

 preserved in 70 per cent, alcohol. 



Nematodes were killed by dropping into 1 toiling 70 per cent, alcohol, and 

 were afterwards preserved in alcohol of the same strength. By this method good, 

 straight specimens were obtained. 



To prevent any damage to the material by the incessant shaking on shipboard, 

 the tubes were filled completely with 70 per cent, alcohol. They were then immersed 

 in large stoppered jars filled also with 70 per cent, alcohol and cotton-wool. The 

 results from these methods have been excellent. 



The Expedition is indebted to the Committee of the London School of Tropical 

 Medicine for the opportunity provided by them to Surgeon Atkinson to obtain 



