434 PARASITISM AND DISEASE /A RUFFED GROUSE 



Several species of flatworms known as flukes, have been reported from scattered localities 

 throughout the range of the grouse. One ( Hannostomiim pellucidum) was originally found 

 in the cecum of a robin'"" but has been encountered in ruffed grouse in Minnesota"*, New York, 

 New Hampshire"', and possibly Ontario'. Another very minute worm ( Leucochloridium 

 pricei) first found in the rectum of an Alaska spruce grouse"^" was recently found in ruffed 

 grouse in New Hampshire"'. Neither of the above parasites appear to damage the birds. Prob- 

 ably both species are obtained by eating certain land snails. 



Other intestinal flukes reported for ruffed grouse are Glaphyrostomum from Labrador"^ and 

 a spiny-mouthed form i Echinoparyphium aconiatum ) from Minnesota""". The latter was first 

 described from tlie lapwing'"" in Europe and is probably accidental in grouse. Some of this 

 group of flatworms occur in other organs. Ly perosomum monenteron, which was described 

 from the livers of robins, bluebirds and kingbirds"", has been found in grouse in Minnesota. 

 In the muscles of grouse in that State, immature flukes", Agamodistomum sp., have been en- 

 countered. Proslhogonimus macrorchis, the oviduct fluke of poultry and pheasants, has been 

 reported from the bursa Fabricii of grouse in New Hampshire""^'. 



A tapeworm (Davainea proglottina) which is generally considered to be a parasite of 

 chickens and turkeys has been found in ruffed grouse in Labrador"' and New Hampshire"'. 

 The fact that no poultry existed in the former region where this worm occurs poses an in- 

 teresting question. Is it typical of chickens and transmissible to grouse or is the wild bird 

 the normal host? 



Two other poultry tapeworms have also been reported from grouse (Choanotaenia injuiidi- 

 buluin and Hy/nenolepis carioca). These were found in Minnesota" and New Hampshire", 

 respectively, the identification of the latter being tentative. Davainea telraoensis, a tape- 

 worm known also in the capercailzie in Switzerland, has been encountered in ruffed grouse 

 in Michigan'"' and Ontario". 



In the mid-west""' "' a roundworm parasite (Oxyspirura petrowi) occurs under the nictitating 

 membrane of the eye of grouse occasionally causing considerable inflammation. An intestinal 

 roundworm (Contracaecum) has been listed** as a parasite of grouse but is probably an acci- 

 dental occurrence because worms of this genus are generally found in fish-eating birds and 

 mammals. The strawberry worm (Tetrameres americana) whose common name is suggested 

 by the almost spherical, blood-red form of the female, is found in the glandular stomach 

 of chickens and l)obwhite quail and has been experimentally transmitted to grouse, pigeon 

 and domestic duck by feeding certain species of infected grasshoppers'"'. There is nothing to 

 indicate that it is a natural grouse parasite or that it is of importance in the wild. Nema- 

 tode cysts, (Pliysaloplcra) found in the muscles of grouse in Minnesota''' are undoubtedly 

 accidental and innocuous. 



Rodent mites ( Laelaptinae) have liccn rc|)(iiled from grouse in New Hainjishire"'" and 

 harvest mites (Trombicula microti) from Ontario'" while in both ihcse localities feather 

 mites have also been found'"' *". 



In the summer of 19,32. a female grouse was lhi>hi'(l from her nest in Otsego County, New 

 York, revealing the presence of hundreds of miles wilhin llic nest and covering the eggs. Un- 

 fortunately there were no facilities for their eollei linn ;iiul lliey were, therefore, not made 

 available for identification. The parasites of this group, however, are thought to cause but 

 little if anv trouble among grouse. 



The northern fowl mile, (Liponyssus sylviaruni ) on the other hand, has been reported to 



