ZOOLOGY. 423 



rels from localities where hogs are raised may be due to their suscepti- 

 bility to the germ of hog cholera or swine plague, several squirrels were 

 inoculated with the germs of this disease, but with entirely negative 

 results. 



Germs developing in putrid blood of calves were next tried. At the 

 end of 6 weeks 1 of the animals died, but careful examination gave no 

 evidence of the bacterium either in the blood or tissues. 



Another experiment in which the cages of the animals were allowed 

 to become very foul resulted in the death of 2 of the animals {Spermo- 

 philus columbianus). An examination showed considerable changes 

 in the internal organs, and cover-glass preparations from heart blood 

 brought to light a number of short bacilli somewhat thinner, but other- 

 wise similar to the typhoid bacilli which were also found in bouillon 

 cultures from the spleen and kidneys grown on agar in an incubator. 

 Its growth in cultures is described. Some 24 hours after the death of 

 the 2 animals noted a third one was found dead and upon examina- 

 tion the same internal appearances were seen, and cultures gave the 

 same bacillus. Testing the new bacillus upon rabbits, guinea pigs, and 

 white rats showed it to be nonpathogenic for these animals. 



In March, 1896, a culture of the bacillus isolated in Mareskovski's 

 experiments was received and experimented with upon the different 

 species of Spermophilus, each animal receiving 0.5 cc. of a fresh bouil- 

 lon culture. Specimens of Spermophilus townsendi after 2 weeks were 

 still apparently in a healthy condition. Another small Spermophilus 

 was then tried and was found dead 24 hours later. The body was 

 placed in the cage of the specimens of 8. townsendi, and 6 days later 1 

 of these was found dead. An examination showed a condition in the 

 abdominal organs as described by Mereskovski. Cultures produced 

 the bacillus in pure state. The remains of the animal were fed to others, 

 but without result. Other animals left over from the previous year's 

 experiments were injected with fatal results. 



In conclusion the author thinks the question has more sides than was 

 was at first anticipated, but it is thought that a germ may be found that 

 may prove pathogenic for at least 1 or 2 species, and ultimately such 

 as will be fatal in the case of other species. The fact is noted that the 

 epidemics to which these animals are known to be more or less subject 

 need study by competent bacteriologists. 



Lessons in elementary biology, T.J. Parker {London : Macmillan cf- Co., 1897, 3d 

 ed.,pp. 503; rev. in Naturw. Rundschau, 12 (1897), No. 42, p. 540).— This excellent work 

 has in this third edition been somewhat enlarged so as to treat more fully of higher 

 animals and plants. 



The effect of great cold on animalcules, worms, insects, and other animals, 

 J, Weir, Jr. (Scient. Amer., 77 (1897), No. 17, p. 268).— Notes on a number of experi- 

 ments with the animals named, demonstrating that they may be frozen without 

 serious injury. 



Effect of the season on migration, H. J. Giddings (Iowa Nat., 3 (1897), No. 3, pp. 

 41, 42). — Migration is attributed to a general restlessness except during the breeding 

 season. During the present season many species did not arrive with their accus- 

 tomed promptness. 



