284 GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 



Winslow et al. (Committee See. Am. Bact., 1917, p. 563) give this 

 as the second genus under the heading of forms intermediate between 

 bacteria and protozoa. The description is: 



Cristispira Gross. Giant forms with undulating body and peculiar flattened 

 ridge erroneously called an "undulating membrane" which runs the length of 

 the body. Parasitic in molluscs. 



The type species is Cristispira balbianii Certes, from the crystalline style of the 

 oyster. 



Buchanan (1918, p. 544) makes this the fourth of the family Spiro- 

 chaetaceae. 



Spiral organisms known only from the crystalline style of mussels. The body 

 of the organism is circular in cross section, more or less spirally wound and 

 possessing a longitudinal comb or crest which does not extend quite to the tips. 



The type species is Cristispira veneris Gross. 



Bergey (1923, p. 423) recognized this as the third genus of the family 

 Spirochaetaceae with the following description: "Giant forms with 

 undulating body and peculiar flattened ridge erroneously called an 

 'undulating membrane' which runs the length of the body. Parasitic 

 in molluscs." 



It would appear that Cristispira Gross constitutes a valid genus 

 name. It is questionable, however, whether these forms are to be 

 considered among the bacteria or the protozoa. Most authors include 

 them among the latter. C. veneris Gross is the type. 



Cromobacterium. A generic name proposed by Bergonzini (1881, 

 p. 153) for the species Cr. violaceum. The organism was first observed 

 in a solution of egg white, producing a dark violet scum. Microscopic 

 examination showed it to be made up of motile rods two to three times 

 as long as broad. The solubility of the pigment in alcohol, but not 

 in water, was noted. The original diagnosis reads: 



Element! cellulari cilindrici per lo piu isolati, 2 a 3 volte cosi longhi come larghi 

 dotati di movimento oscillante, colorati in violetto da una sostanza speciale 

 insolubile nell 'acqua. Grossezza da 0.6 a 1/x; lunghezza da 2 a 3/i. Vegetano 

 specialmente nelle soluz. d'albume d'ovo. 



This organism has been variously named Bacillus violaceus and 

 Bacterium violaceum. This genus with the spelling Cromobacterium 

 does not appear to have been generally recognized by other writers, 

 but with corrected spelling Chromobacterium q.v. it has been suggested 

 as a generic name for the violet bacteria. 



