XVI.—On Stichocotyle Nephropis, a new Trematode

Abstract

The Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, on account of its abundance in the Firth of Forth, and the consequent ease with which it can be obtained from the Newhaven market, is given to the practical classes in the Natural History Laboratory of Edinburgh University for dissection, as an example of the decapodous Crustacea. One day in December last, while I was superintending the work of a class engaged in the study of this animal, one of the students, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, called my attention to some globular protuberances on the intestine of the specimen he was dissecting. At the time I was unable to answer his questions any further than to say that the protuberances were the cysts of a parasite, and I put the specimen by for subsequent examination. On opening the cysts afterwards I found in them a small white worm, which proved to be a Trematode possessing novel characteristics. In the following paper I shall describe this parasite, and show that it is so distinct from all Trematodes hitherto known as to constitute a new genus. On several occasions I had the pleasure of examining the animal in the company of my friend and former colleague, Mr Duncan Matthews, and some of the points in its structure were first noticed by him.