W. Nicoll 
23 
parasite fauna of Australian fishes will furnish many forms of extreme 
interest. This is evidenced by the fact that more than half of the 
species described here represent new generic types differing considerably 
from those occurring in other parts of the world. 
Genus Maculifer n. g. 
Maculifer sub-aequiporus n. sp. 
(Plate IV, fig. 1.) 
This is apparently an extremely common intestinal parasite of the 
toad-fishes. I have collected, personally, numerous specimens from the 
intestine of the spotted toad-fish {Sphaeroides multistriatus). Amongst 
the collection in the museum of this Institute there are also specimens 
from the black and the striped toad-fish (both identified as “ Tetraodon 
hispidum”). Possibly these'latter collections are from the same host 
as that from which I have personally taken the parasite. 
The most striking feature of this form is its excessively spotted 
appearance. This is due to the presence of a large number of dark 
brown pigment patches varying in diameter from the smallest speck up 
to 0-07 mm. These are not merely sub-cuticular but are scattered 
throughout the entire substance of the body, being most numerous in 
the lateral fields. They occur even in the suckers but they do not 
invade the genital glands. They do not appear to stand in intimate 
relation to any of the internal organs or systems, but they may possibly 
be connected with the excretory system, as the granules of which the 
patches are composed bear some resemblance to those occasionally met 
with in the. excretory tubules of other Trematodes (e.g. Daspmetra 
eonferta). 
The general body shape is elongated oval with the ends gently 
rounded. Sometimes a slight constriction is present just behind the 
ventral sucker. At this point the anterior and posterior halves of the 
body are usually bent on each other dorsally and the ventral sucker, 
in consequence, is rendered prominent. There are no cuticular spines. 
The length of mature specimens varies from T5 to 3-6 mm. and the 
greatest breadth is about three-sevenths of the length. The smallest 
immature specimen collected was 0-6 mm. long. Pigment spots were 
present in as great profusion as in the adults. 
The sub-terminal oral sucker measures 0-43 x 0’40 mm. and the 
ventral sucker 0-46 x 0-54 mm. in a specimen 3 mm. long. The latter 
