NOTES ON ANTARCTIC BACTERIOLOGY. 



141 



The following table shows the same data grouped according to the species of animal 

 from which inoculations were made, with +ve or - ve results : 



TABLE II. 



Growths of one or more species of bacteria were therefore obtained from the 

 alimentary tract of 13 of the 20 species examined ; from 3 of the 4 species of seals, 

 and from 10 of the 15 species of birds. Although this seems a very poor result, 

 it is really large when compared with the numbers of positive findings obtained 

 on other expeditious. Dr Ekelof obtained a bacillus twice from the intestinal 

 contents of Antarctic skuas, but failed to get any growth from the same species on 

 other occasions, and also could get no growth from Adelia penguins, gentoo penguins, 

 terns (Sterna hirundinacea) , or cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps). Dr Gazert, 

 from Weddell seals, crab-eating seals, and sea-leopards, always obtained bacteria in the 

 large intestine ; more rarely in the small intestine and stomach. In the stomach and 

 intestinal contents of the following birds he found no bacteria, either by aerobic or 

 anaerobic cultivation : King penguins, Adelia penguins, Antarctic petrels, snowy petrels, 

 terns (Sterna hirundinacea], and a species of Priofinus. Only from one tern and one 

 Adelia penguin were growths obtained, and in neither case could fallacy from accidental 

 contamination be excluded. Dr Charcot reports that the examination of fsecal 

 matter from the intestines of various seals, birds, and fishes showed the presence 

 of numerous and various bacteria, in smaller numbers, however, than in temperate 

 regions. He brought home a number of live cultures from seals, gulls, penguins, 

 petrels, and fishes, from which Mile. Tsiklinsky was able to isolate in pure culture 



