13 
spherical to ellipsoidal. Thus, in reference to the size of the cal- 
careous corpuscles, there seems to be a slight difference between the 
American and the Japanese parasites. 
Reserve food bodies . — Ijima has described as present in the paren- 
chyma certain bodies which he views as reserve food material. 
Usually they are roundish or oval. 100 to 300/x in diameter ; but they 
may become very elongate. 
In the Florida parasite similar bodies are present, but in the speci- 
mens thus far examined microscopically they do not seem to be quite 
so numerous or quite so large and prominent as described by Ijima 
for the Japanese form. It is possible, however, that this is a matter 
of individual variation. 
Excretory system . — The parasites, as described by Ijima. contain 
an extensive system of anastomosing excretory vessels. In this 
respect the Florida form agrees with the Japanese species. Some of 
the canals are quite large, others are smaller, some are very small. 
Ijima calls attention to the absence of excretory vessels in the periph- 
eral zone of the posterior part of the body: he also states that he 
was unable to find any opening. 
In sections of one of the Florida parasites fine canals were found 
rather close to the cuticle, but because of the branched conditj .011 of 
the worm it is difficult to state just what portion of the body this was; 
it was not. however, a head. Likewise, in one case sections of a pore 
(fig. 18) on the surface, with a centripetally directed canal, were dis- ’ 
tinctly seen. In view of the absence of genital organs one is naturally 
inclined to look upon this pore as belonging to the excretory system. 
The longitudinal muscles of the Japanese worm are described as 
well developed, and in addition there is a less strongly developed set 
of muscle fibers running in different directions but mainly in the 
transverse plane. Xear the head these transverse muscles may be 
quite regular (some dorso ventral, others crossing these at right 
angles), but in thicker portions of the body they may become very 
irregular. This description applies in a general way to the Florida 
form also. 
Xervous system . — Ijima noticed a pair of longitudinal, lateral 
nerve trunks in the cephalic portion; they seemed to unite close to 
the tip of the head. In several sections of the Florida worms nerves 
were distinguished, but details as to their topography were not 
studied. 
Life cycle . — Experiments to raise the adult stage by feeding the 
Japanese parasites to cats, dogs, and pigs were negative. 
As all of my own material was preserved no experiments could be 
undertaken. The question as to the source of infection, life cycle, etc., 
must be left open for the present. 
