16 
kindl}^ forwarded to me for examination two worms taken from the 
abdominal cavity of Culex sollicitans. One specimen was hardly in 
condition to be of use in study, but it represented a larval round- 
worm, probably either a Merrnis or a Parameiinis. The second speci- 
men was determined as a larval roundworm, but owing to the fact 
that its genital organs were not developed, its exact generic position 
could not be recognized. It apparently belongs in the family Mermi- 
thidse, either to Merrnis or to Para nier mis. It will be convenient to 
recognize for these larval forms a special biological group, for which 
I propose the name Agamomermis. 
The characters of the groups in question may be summarized as 
follows: 
Family MERMITHID^. 
Family diagnosis. — Thread-like ^YO^ms, quite similar to Filaria in general appear- 
ance. Mouth ^Yith 6 papillae. In adults, the posterior end of the intestinal canal 
is more or less atrophied. Male with 1 or 2 spicules and with numerous caudal 
papillae aranged in three or four rows. Larvae parasitic, especially in the abdom- 
inal cavity of arthropods; adults free living. 
Type genus. — Merrnis Dujardin, 1842. 
Genus MERMIS Dujardin, 1842. 
Geneeic diagnosis. — Mermithidae: Male with two equal spicules. 
Type species. — Merrnis nigrescens Dujardin, 1842. 
Genus PARAMERMIS von Linstow, 1898. 
Generic diagnosis. — Mermithidae: Male with one spicule. 
Type species. — Not determined — either P. crassa (von Linstow, 1889) or P. aqua- 
tilis (Dujardin, 1845). 
Group AGAMOMERMIS Stiles, 1903. 
Generic diagnosis. — Mermithidae: An artificial collective group containing larval 
forms which can not be more definitely determined because of lack of genital organs. 
As such a group is artificial it should have no type species. 
Species AGAMOMERMIS CULICIS Stiles, 1903. 
Specific diagnosis. — Agamomeixiis: About 11 mm. long; 240 /On diameter. Cau- ' 
dal spine 88 u long. 
Habitat. — Abdominal cavity of mosquitoes {Culex sollicitans), New Jersey. 
Type specimen. — Collection V. S. P. H. & M.-H. S., No. 9401, « in poor condition; 
collected by Dr. John B. Smith, New Brunswick, N. J. 
« Important notice to helminthologists. — In order to prevent confusion, and 
following the precedent of the United States Bureau of Animal Industry, the speci- 
mens of parasites and of other objects in medical zoology 'which become property of 
the Division of Zoology, Hygienic Laboratory, L'nited States Public Health and 
Marine-Hospital Service, M'ill be given numbers in the series of the Helminthological 
Collection of the United States National IMuseum. 
Nos. 1 to 4700 have been set aside for the United States Bureau of Animal Industry. 
Nos. 4701 to 9400 have been set aside for the miscellaneous specimens of jiarasites 
deposited in or presented to the United States National Museum or sent to the 
Museum for determination. 
Nos. 9401 to have been set aside for the United States Public Health and 
Marine-Hospital Service. 
