A Reference List of the Trematode Parasites of British Birds

Abstract

As a subject of investigation the Trematode fauna of British Birds does not appear to have aroused at any time much enthusiasm amongst British zoologists and as a result we owe the greater part of our knowledge of the subject to continental workers. The fact that our bird fauna is practically identical with that of the adjacent parts of Western Europe would lead us to expect that the parasites of our birds should not differ materially from those met with in the same species of birds on the continent. As a matter of fact, no species of bird Trematode hitherto recorded from this country can be regarded as peculiar to Britain, with the possible exception of Echinostephilla virgula Lebour, which, however, will almost certainly be met with in other localities later.