COTUGNIA BROTUGERYS, MEGGITT, 1915
                      (FROM GALLUS DOMESTICUS, HOSUR
                                CATTLE FARM, MADRAS)

                                                BY

                        S. VAITHIANATHA MUDALIAR, G.M.V.C.

Assistant Lecturer, Department of Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College

                    (Received for publication on 25th March 1939)

The only available record of this parasite seems to be by Meggitt, from
Burma, from Platycercus eximius [quoted by Southwell, 1930] and the present
description is the first from India. The worms described now were collected
from a Leghorn cockerel and were sent to the College for identification.

The largest specimen measured 100.0 × 2.0.* The mature segments are
0.6 long and 1.8 wide. The gravid segments measure 1.2 in length and 1.8
in width. There is slight overlapping of segments both in front and behind.

The genitalia are double in each segment and the genital pores are situated
usually at the anterior third of the lateral margins of the segments but in a few
of them, their position may be at the middle of the segments.

The Scolex is roughly square in shape and measures 0.9 × 0.7. The
suckers are circular, with a diameter of 0.3. The rostellum is smaller in dia-
meter than the suckers and measures 0.22 in width. It carries a double row of
a very large number of hooks, each measuring 0.12 long.

The testes are numerous and are situated behind the middle of the seg-
ment, extending laterally on both sides beyond the excretory vessels. The
cirrus sac reaches the excretory vessels and, in a few cases, crosses the same.
The cirrus is unarmed. The ovary consists of a few thick lobes arranged in a
fanlike manner and the vitellaria are situated posterior to the ovary. The
shell-gland is not clearly seen. The uterus is not persistent but breaks up into
a number of thick-walled capsules enclosing three to five eggs in each.

This description agrees with that given by Southwell [1930] for Cotugnia
brotugerys, Meggitt, 1915, recovered from a different host, viz., Platycercus
eximius.

                                           REFERENCE

Southwell, T. (1930). Cestoda II, Fauna of British India, 109—110

                                  *All measurements are in millimeters.

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