THE PROTOZOA OF TERMITES 45 



structure and nuclear division. In most cases, a counterstain of 

 acid fuchsin, erythrosin, eosin, or light green is advantageous. 

 Cutler (1919) found that Dobell's iron haematin gave fine results, 

 especially for flagella and axostyles. Delafield's hematoxylin is 

 useful chiefly for nuclear structure and for the parabasal appa- 

 ratus. In most flagellates of termites with which the writer has 

 had experience, the parabasal apparatus can be stained intensely 

 with Delafield's hematoxylin, even after fixation by Schaudinn's 

 fluid containing acetic acid. Alum carmine with counterstain of 

 light green, or safranin and light green, gives fine preparations of 

 some of the hypermastigotes. 



Mallory's connective tissue stain has given some beautiful prepa- 

 rations of the PYRSONYMPHiD^, Holoumstlgotcs, Spirotricho- 

 nympha, Trichomonas, Macrotnchonionas (F. C. Connell) and 

 other flagellates. By its use the adherent flagella in the pyrso- 

 NYMPHiD^, flagella-bearing filaments in Holomastigotes, the 

 SPIROTRICHONYMPHID^ and Pscudotrichonyuipha, the axostyle- 

 like structures in the pyrsoxymphid^ and Oxyinonas, and vari- 

 ously coloring cytoplasmic granules and globules are brought out 

 clearly. Parabasal bodies stain blue. Champy-Kull's method has 

 also given brilliant results for some flagellates. Wood is stained 

 green by this technique. The Feulgen nucleal reaction is specific 

 for chromatin among the protoplasmic substances, but it also stains 

 cellulose red (G. W. Kidder). 



Grasse (1926) has used osmic acid to impregnate the parabasal 

 apparatus. Following the Mann-Kopsch or Prenant-Kopsch 

 methods, impregnation in two per cent osmic acid occupied more 

 than a month and in Pyrsonyvipha, as in TricJiomonas batra- 

 chorum and Trypanosoma hrucci, about sixty days. Silver impreg- 

 nation methods did not give as good results as osmic acid. For the 

 parabasal apparatus the Smith-Dietrich technique and a method 

 given in the text of fixation in osmic vapor, treatment with three 

 per cent potassium bichromate, staining in Sudan III and mount- 

 ing in syrup of Apathy were also successful. 



It is very important to examine termites which have recently 

 molted as well as those in which the fauna has reached its maxi- 

 mum abundance and become stabilized. In termites taken imme- 

 diately after molting no protozoa are present. They soon become 

 reinfected and during the first few days contain flagellates some- 

 what different in form and relative abundance from those which 



