GOBIND SINGH THAPAR AND BIPIN BIHARI SINGHA 221
junction of the three ducts is further marked by the
presence of compact shell-gland cells. The uterus
arises from the öotype and runs towards the anterior
end of body making a few coils which are full of eggs.
The course of the uterus anteriorly is S-shaped, it
crosses over from one side of the body to the other
and again to the same side as in Gastrothylax. Near
its termination it becomes slightly muscular and
forms the metraterm. The genital pore is situated
at a distance of 1.42 mm. from the anterior end of
the body and is surrounded by a well-developed
genital sucker. The eggs are oval and operculated,
measuring 0.068-0.085 mm. by 0.075-0.119 mm. in
size.
The vitelline glands are well developed and consist
of large follicles situated laterally on either side of
the body, extending from a little in front of the
genital sucker to a little in front of the posterior
sucker. The transverse vitelline duct of each side
leaves the glands in front of the acetabulum and
runs inwards to meet each other behind the ovary.
From this point a common vitelline duct takes its
origin and runs forwards to the öotype.
Male Reproductive Organs. There are two testes
situated slightly diagonally one behind the other in
the posterior half of the body, a little in front of the
ovary. They are more or less rounded with slightly
lobed margins. The anterior testis lies at a distance
of 2.95 mm. from the anterior end of the body and
measures 1.2 mm. by 0.95 mm. in size. The posterior
testis lies 0.17 mm. behind the anterior testis and
measures 1.33 mm. by 1.14 mm. The vasa deferentia
from the two testes unite together a little in front of
the anterior testis and form a much coiled tube, the
vesicula seminalis which leads into a cirrus 0.57 mm.
by 0.22 mm. in size. The cirrus is enclosed within a
thin-walled cirrus-sac, containing numerous prostate
gland cells, and open at the genital pore beside
the opening of the metraterm.
To sum up the present form, Olveria, is charac-
terized thus :—
1. Body pyriform without spines, except in
the region of the oral sucker and the
genital sucker.
2. Mouth opening terminal ; cuticle inside
mouth thrown into denticles ; two oral
pouches present, fused with the oral
sucker.
3. Pharynx absent.
Oesophagus long and
J-shaped, consisting of two portions and
is lined with cuticle.
4. Cæca long, forming antero-posterior loops.
5. Excretory system simple, H-shaped ;
excretory pore at posterior end behind
opening of Laurer's canal.
6. Lymphatic system consists of only one pair
of longitudinal lymph vessels.
7. Testes two, placed obliquely in posterior half
of body. Vesicula seminalis much coiled ;
cirrus-sac present.
8. Ovary post-testicular, a little to left of
median line. Vitellaria in distinct
follicles, on the lateral sides of body.
9. A genital sucker present.
10. Eggs operculated and oval in shape.
DISCUSSION
From the foregoing description it appears that
the genus Olveria shows close affinities with the
members of the family Cladorchidæ in the presence of
oral diverticula. It further resembles the sub-
family Cladorchinæ in the nature of the intestinal
cæca, the relative position of the ovary and the
testes, the nature and position of the yolk glands
and the presence of a genital sucker. It, however,
differs from it in the presence of only one pair of
longitudinal lymphatic ducts, in the nature of the
uterine coils and in the division of œsophagus into
an anterior muscular and a posterior glandular
portion. In the presence of only one pair of longi-
tudinal lymphatic ducts and the nature of the
excretory system, it resembles the members of the
family Paramphistomidæ) but differs from them in
the peculiar division of the œsophagus into two
parts and in the presence of oral diverticula and
antero-posterior loops in the intestine. In the
disposition of the uterine coils it is associated with
Gastrothylacidæ from which it differs in many
important features including the absence of the
ventral pouch and in the peculiar division of the
œsophagus into an anterior muscular and a posterior
glandular portion. In the division of the œsophagus
into two parts it is unique amongst the Amphistomes
and. it, therefore, cannot be placed under any of the
known genera. It, however, combines in itself,
as already indicated, the characters of several
families of Amphistomes. Further investigations
may lead to the creation of a new subfamily for
these forms.
SUMMARY
A new genus and species of an Amphistome
parasite recovered from the rumen of cattle and
buffalo from U. P. has been described in detail..
The characteristics of this form are : the presence
of oral pouches fused with the oral sucker, the shape
and structure of the œsophagus, the presence of
antero-posterior loops in the intestinal cæca,
the presence of a genital sucker, H-shaped
excretory vessel and one pair of longitudinal
lymphatic ducts. The presence of the intestinal
cæca has been demonstrated for the first time in
this genus and is likely to be present in other geneia
of Amphistomes as well.
Methods for the study of excretory and lymphatic
systems have been described.
G