On Purples or Ear-cockles in Wheat. 
347 
and reproduces itself with marvellous rapidity. The disease 
known as the " gapes " in poultry is caused by a nematoid 
worm, which is developed in great abundance in the alimentary 
canal ; from the canal the worms find their way into the lungs, 
causing the choking which too often proves fatal to the bird. 
But it is to a free nematoid worm that the disease in the 
wheat is due. This division of the order is found in great 
abundance wherever these animals have been studied. Bastian 
obtained a large number of species in a few months in a limited 
locality. Dr. De Max has described one hundred and forty-one 
species from Australia. Dr. Joseph has lately been investi- 
gating the species in the dark caves of Carniola, and he has there 
found no less than fifteen species belonging to several genera. 
These small nematoid worms are frequently met with in 
decaying fruit and vegetables, and they are found in connection 
with living plants, though in many cases they do not appear to 
produce any injury. At Broadmoor, in Berkshire, Mr. Bastian 
found ten species on wheat ; six of them were found attached to 
the roots of the wheat,* and three were discovered between the 
sheath of the leaves and the stalk or culm of the wheat,f while 
one species was observed associated with the plant both below 
and above ground, being detected between the stem and leaves 
and on the rootlets as well. J Three species were found in con- 
nection with oats, two being found on the roots,§ and one 
between the leaf-sheaths and the stalk. 1] Three species were also 
found by Bastian in connection with the giant fescue {Festuca 
elatior) ; all of them were detected between the stem and the 
leaf-sheaths. 1[ 
Rev. M. J. Berkeley described some cucumber-plants from a 
garden at Nuneham, which were injured by a small nematoid 
worm. The leaves were covered with brown spots, and some 
were found also on the stem. On lifting the plants the roots 
were noticed to be covered with small excrescences, from the size 
of a pin's head to that of a nutmeg. These excrescences were 
of a dirty cream colour, somewhat spherical, and were found to 
be developed on one side of the root. In section they con- 
sisted of irregular radiating whitish masses of vascular tissue, 
* piphgaster alius, Bastian, 'Linn. Soc. Trans.' xxv. p. 117; D. jiliformis, 
Bastiiin, I.e. ; Cephalohus striatus, Bastian, I.e. p. 125 ; Tylenchus terricola, 
Bastian, I.e. p. 127; Rhahditis longicaudata, Bastian, I.e. p. 130; and B. anris 
Bnstian, I.e. 
t I'lectus Trilici, Bastian, I.e. p. 120 ; Ceplialohus ijersegnU, Bastian, I.e. 
p. 124 ; and Ithahdiiis ornata, Bastian, I.e. p. 130. 
J Dorylainms Trilici, Bastian, I.e. p. 107. 
§ Plectus gramdosas, Bastian, I.e. p. 120; Ihjlenclius oUusus, Bastian, I.e. 
P- 128. II Aphdtnclias avenx, Bastian, I.e. p. 123. 
^ Mononchus papillntun, Bastian, I.e. p. 101; Dorylaimus x>apillatuK, Bastian; 
and D. torpidus, Bastian, I.e. p. 108. 
