206 Herpetomonas aspongopi 
blepharoplast splits transversely (Fig. 2, r) and the two halves become 
separated. The nucleus now becomes elongated and it undergoes 
division (Fig. 2, r and s). A line is seen which commences at the root 
of the blepharoplasts and runs to the posterior end of the parasite. 
Along this line the parasite divides (Fig. 2 ,t), the anterior end of the 
parasite separating first, the cleavage later extending to the posterior 
end (Fig. 2, u). It is quite common to see all stages of division in the 
crop in good infections. The parasites evidently divide many times, as 
division was observable in quite small forms, and also in many larger 
forms which evidently gave rise to the long thin form (see Fig. 2, o 
and p ); some of these long forms measured as much as 32 g. Dividing 
parasites were always found in the crop, less often in the stomach and 
mid-gut, and very rarely in the rectum. As mentioned before the bodies 
supposed to be the resting stages were found in the faeces on two 
occasions. In one Melon Bug the salivary glands were found to be 
swarming with parasites, many of which were dividing. Several of the 
drawings were made from parasites from these glands. 
The Method of Infection. 
Very little can be said on this point as infected bugs were extremely 
rare. Patton’s view that the liquid faeces are sucked up by other bugs 
seems by far the most acceptable hypothesis regarding the mode of 
infection. As mentioned before a large number of larvae and nymphs 
were examined but they were never found to be infected. In the few 
infected bugs which were studied careful examination of the ovaries was 
made but no parasites were discovered. 
Experiments. 
An emulsion of the contents of the crop of a bug, which contained 
many flagellates, was made in salt solution and injected into a gerbil; 
the result was negative, no infection taking place. An attempt was 
made to keep the flagellates in citrate of soda solution but they all died 
quickly. 
Concluding Remarks. 
Herpetomonas aspongopi is a true parasite of Aspongopus viduatus, 
the complete cycle of development taking place in the alimentary tract 
of the bug. The parasite is not transmitted hereditarily, but it probably 
