H. A. Baylis 
415 
The oesophagus is 2-3 mm. long; it increases gradually in diameter 
as it passes backwards, and has a rounded base. The anterior end of 
the chyle-intestine is pushed forward slightly round the base of the 
oesophagus, forming a cup-shaped hollow into which it fits. 
There are no intestinal or oesophageal diverticula. 
The tail, in both sexes, is very blunt. I am unable to find the 
terminal papilla mentioned by Baird. In the male, the posterior end 
of the body has only a slight ventral flexure; the “tail,” properly so- 
called, i.e. the portion posterior to the anus, measures only 0-2 mm. 
in length, and is curved towards the dorsal side. The spicules (Fig. 2, 
S'p.) are sickle-shaped, and have a distinct blade on the concave side. 
Fig. 2. Ascaria obconica : Lateral view of the tail in the male: P., preanal papillae; 
Sp., spicules. The postanal papillae are not shown, and the preanal papillae extend 
further forward than is indicated by the figure. 
The back of the spicule is strengthened by a solid rib. The length of 
each spicule (measured in a straight line from base to tip) is 2-48 mm., 
and its width (including the blade) 0-08 mm. The blade is a little more 
than twice the width of the solid rib. There are four pairs of postanal 
papillae (Fig. 3, 1-4), situated close together near the extreme tip of 
the tail. The first pair, nearest to the tip, are rather small, and directed 
dorsally; the second pair larger, more bluntly conical, and more ventrally 
situated; the third and fourth pairs are also ventral, the fourth being 
about equal to the first in size, and the third intermediate between the 
first and second. There is a perfectly regular row of about 40 long 
preanal papillae on either side (Fig. 2, P), the rows gradually diverging 
as they pass forward. 
