Abstract
IN no group of vertebrates are cestode worms so numerous and of such varied types as among birds, and as these have hitherto been but little studied, Dr. Fuhrmann has for the last eleven years devoted a large portion of his time to their investigation, directing special attention to the tæniid, or tapeworm, group. The result is the present memoir, which bears full witness to the arduous nature of the author's labours. No fewer than sixty-four distinct generic types (many of them with numerous species) of these parasites are recognised as infesting birds, and the author has taken soecial pains to ascertain so far as possible the particular groups of birds to which these various genera respectively devote their attentions. This renders the work of value and in terest to the ornithologist as well as to the students of parasitology, since the results have a distinct bearing on the mutual relations of different bird-groups. He shows, for instance, that the plover group (Limicolæ) has no parasites common to the gulls (Gaviæ), which may tend to show that these groups are less intimately related than is generally considered to be the case, although, before coming to a definite conclusion, the difference in their habitats must be borne in mind. Similarly, it is found that the parasitic worms of the diurnal birds of prey (Accipitres) are totally distinct from those of the owls (Striges), despite the fact that the food of many members of the two groups is identical. In this case we have confirmation of the modern view as to the wide sundering of the Accipitres and the Striges. To follow the author further is, within the limitations of our space, impossible, and we may therefore conclude by commending his work to the best attention of both ornithologists and hel-minthologists.
Die Cestoden der Vögel.
By Dr. O. Fuhrmann. Zool. Jahrb., Suppl. 10, part i. Pp. 1–232. (Jena: Gustav Fischer, 1908.)
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
L., R. Die Cestoden der Vögel . Nature 79, 66 (1908). https://doi.org/10.1038/079066b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/079066b0