The Oxyurid parasites of Reptiles form a group of very interesting forms and have been a subject of study by several distinguished helminthologists from early times. The earliest account, in a connected form, to which the writer has been able to refer is that given by Rudolphi (1819). This author, though recognising the genus Oxyuris, restricts to it the forms found in mammals and more particularly Oxyuris vermicttlaris from the large intestine of man and Oxyuris curvula from the caxum of horse; the Oxyurids of all other animals he refers to the genus Ascaris.

This small ankylostome was collected from the intestine of a Gambian mongoose which had arrived in England some eight months previously, and had died in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London.

Two members of a collection of the South American rodent Viscacia viscacia received by the Zoological Society of London, died early this year, one of them about 10 days after arrival at the Gardens. At the post-mortem examination both were found to have the alimentary canal heavily parasitized with Trichostrongylid nematodes. In the stomach there occurred Graphidioides rudicaudatus and Trichostrongylus retortæformis, whilst in the small intestine there were a few specimens of Trichostrongylus retortæformis and large numbers of the worm which forms the subject of the present paper. To naked eye examination of the intestinal wall the worms appeared as small bright red spots about the size of a pin's head and it could be seen that each was spirally coiled.

In 1923, the writer in studying some species of the family Trichostrongylidæ, had occasion to create a new genus Graphidioides to receive the form previously known as Graphidium affine (Megnin, 1895), Railliet and Henry, 1909. This species differs from the type species of the genus Graphidium on the following points: absence of cervical papillæ, shape of bursa and disposition of ventro-ventral rays, shape of accessory piece and spicules, shape of the ovejectors and vagina and posterior extremity of the female. In an addendum on the remaining species of Graphidium, G. rudicaudatum the following statement was made:—

“Graphidium rudicaudatus R. & H., 1909, from Viscacia viscacia from Argentina resembles G. affinis very closely. It differs mainly by its smaller size, equal ovejectors, sharply pointed externo-dorsal ray and absence of an accessory piece. Its affinities to Graphidioides are so close, that the latter point requires re-investigation. The other points are only of specific value, and it is proposed to include it in this new genus. Should the absence of an accessory piece be confirmed, its position would require re-determination.”

The following observations cover the second half of a year's survey of the helminthic parasites of domestic animals in the Aberystwyth area from the beginning of April to the end of September, 1924. The results obtained during the first six months of the survey were published in this Journal in April, 1924 (Vol. II. No. 2).

That the infective larvæ of a number of species of hookworm are capable of penetrating intact skin has been demonstrated in the following, Ancylostoma duodenale, A. caninum, A. braziliense and Necator americanus.