9 
59 
I 
! G-eiaus P^ri^GJ-ORI>ITJS CamerarLO, 1897'. 
; 1897 : Paragordius Camerano, 1897g, 368, 399-400 ( tricuspidatus, emeryi, stylosus, 
varius). — Montgomery, 1898, 43 (type mnus). 
' Two species of this genus have been reported as parasitic in man, 
I name!}", P. varius in North America and P. tricuspidatus^ in Europe. 
I As P. varius is the one of greater interest to American physicians, its 
j description is given here in detail, based upon Montgomery’s wbrk. 
Species PAKAGORDIUS VARIUS (Leidy, 1851) Camerano, 1897. 
i (Figs. 35-55.) 
. 1851: Gordius varius ~LQ\&y , 1851, 262 (U. S. A.) 
I 1897: Paragordius varius (Leidy, 1851) Camerano, 1897g, 399, 402. 
Specific diagnosis. — Paragordius'. Dimensions. Length of largest male seen, 350 
I mm. ; greatest diameter, 0.9 mm. Length of largest female, 290 mm. ; greatest diam- 
[ eter (of a flattened individual ) , 2 mm. The males are more slender and average 
: considerably shorter than the females. 
Color: Color usually lighter in the females than in the males, varying from a light 
brown or yellowish to a dark brown (the larger individuals usually darker). The 
tip of the head is white or a pale brownish. Just behind there is a dark ring of 
color, usually rusty brown or even black, rarely pale. This ring is darkest at its 
anterior edge, and darker on the dorsal than on the ventral side of the body. At ‘ 
least a trace of this ring is to be seen on all mature specimens, though the intensity 
of its coloration is very variable. 
Especial diagnostic characters: The trilobation of the posterior end of the female, 
the long and cylindrical tail lobes of the male, the oblique truncation of the head 
end, and the usually very dark-colored ring around the head, render this species 
ve?y easy of identification. 
Cuticle; On cross section an outer thin hyaline layer is seen, and an inner, much 
thicker fibrous layer. Embedded in the hyaline layer are small lozenge-shaped 
bodies, which stain more deeply than any other portion of the cuticle, and which 
correspond to the areolse seen on surface views. The external surface of the 
hyaline layer of the cuticle is marked by short conoidal processes of the same 
structure as the hyaline matrix. These are not seen on surface views. On surface 
views the cuticle appears areolated. The areolse are small, variable in size and 
form, and irregularly arranged. Sometimes they occur in groups, sometimes in 
interrupted longitudinal rows. Their arrangement varies both in different indi- 
viduals, as well as on different portions of the same individual. The areoles are 
