31 
The following parasitological incidents deserve record: 
Intestinal obstruction the result of volvolus. (Screech 
Owl No. 5550). Tapeworms were present in the loop of 
bowel. 
Physaloptera turgida in the stomach of opossums. (Nos. 
5637 and 6027). These worms have cropped out again 
after a lapse of a year, prior to which they were fairly 
regular sights at autopsies on opossums. (1914 Report, 
page 37). 
Filaria in muscles of Porcupine. (No. 5678). Great 
numbers of this thread-like worm were found in practically 
every muscle of the animal's body. Its larvse were found 
in the blood. This is the first time a muscular habitat 
for filaria has been noted in this laboratory apart from 
those in wild cats. 
Periproventricular Filaria in Birds. These have oc- 
curred frequently but scatteringly this year as follows: 
two jays, three finches, a troupial, a waxbill, a chaffinch, 
a sparrow and a thrush. We have seen them and 
with equal frequency in past years, but have never taken 
active steps in the matter because prophylaxis against 
them seems impractical. The proposition is different 
from the spiroptera and other gastro-intestinal worms 
because the way to diagnosis of infested living birds 
lies in other directions than an examination of the 
droppings, that is, it might involve the taking of blood- 
smears, swabbing of the throat, etc., which would be 
more severe on the collection, perhaps, than the disease. 
We propose to watch the subject for another year and 
decide then whether the importance of the condition is 
still mounting sufficiently to warrant what would amount 
to a research and undoubtedly some loss to the collection. 
Other Filarial Cases in Birds: — Two instances of this 
parasite in the abdominal air sacs of jays, and two in 
■ the thoracic ones of starlings go hand in hand with the 
considerations just indicated. 
Tropidocerca: — This dangerous-looking, blood-red com- 
mensal has been met three times this year, i. e., in a 
starling, a jay and a barbet. It inhabits the mucosa of 
