38 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



the lining of the caeca. The caeca become inflamed, the 

 digestive process is no longer effective, the moult is delayed 

 so that the bird loses the fresh colour of its plumage, declines 

 in weight, and after a more or less protracted resistance, 

 eventually succumbs." 



There is another disease which has been shown during 

 the course of this inquiry to be very fatal to the young of 

 Grouse, though not to the adult bird. Young Grouse are 

 subject, along with the young of many other birds, and 

 particularly of Partridges, to a form of enteritis due to the 

 presence in the alimentary canal of a microscopic, protozoan 

 parasite, called Eimeria {Coccidiutn) avium. When Grouse 

 or Partridges have laid well, and hatched out well, and 

 when the warmth and sunshine of a specially fine summer 

 have fostered the brightest hopes, it is often nevertheless 

 found, as every gamekeeper knows, that when August or 

 September comes round, the coveys have dwindled down to 

 two or three birds a piece, and that the process is still going 

 on. Coccidiosis is the cause. 



The exceedingly intricate Life-history of this parasite — 

 the first time, it is believed, that the Life-history of an avian 

 coccidium has been worked out in detail — has been thoroughly 

 explored by Dr Fantham. Its methods of multiplication 

 include, first, a phase of " schizogony " or division within the 

 body of the host, and, subsequently, the formation by sexual 

 reproduction of resistant spores, which pass from the first 

 host and spread the infection to a new one. The whole 

 morphology is diagrammatically explained with the greatest 

 clearness ; and this chapter is one not only of great practical 

 importance, but of the highest scientific interest as well. 

 Dr Fantham's investigations into the predisposing causes 

 of the disease, as well as into any possible remedial measures, 

 were unfortunately incomplete when the Inquiry came to an 

 end, but valuable hints are given as to the employment of 

 catechu in artificial drinking supplies, as well as regarding 

 what may be called " sanitary " precautions that ought to be 

 taken wherever this is possible. 



Interesting observations on the Blood of Grouse both in 

 health and in disease are made by Dr Fantham, who records 



