GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 381 



Mikrobakterien. A family name used by Fliigge (1886) to include 

 the non-filamentous bacteria. It is an aberrant spelling of Micro- 

 hacterien (q.v.). 



Mikrococcus. A variant spelling of Micrococcus as used by certain 

 German authors, as Unna (1889, p. 393). 



Mikrokokkus. A spelling of Micrococcus used by Hueppe (1886, p. 

 145) to designate an "Untergattung" of his Arthrokokkaceen." Other 

 German writers have also made use of this name. While it is ap- 

 propriate that Mikrokokkus be used as a casual designation, it should 

 not be used in combination with a species name as a specific designa- 

 tion as it is not a Latin word. 



Mikromyces. A variant spelling of Micromyces q.v. used by Gruber 

 (1891). 



Mikrospironema. A variant German spelling of Microspironema 

 q.v. (as Gonder 1914, p. 690). 



Mikrozymas. A variant German spelling of Microzyma q.v. (as 

 Frenzel 1884, p. 49). 



Modderula. A genus of bacteria described by Frenzel (1897, p. 

 802). The organism was observed first in dishes in which "Modder" 

 was kept in the laboratory. "Modder" is the name given by the 

 North German fisherman to the slime in the bottom of certain of the 

 slow flowing waters of that region. The specific name given to the 

 organism is Modderula hartwigi. The organism is ellipsoid, sometimes 

 longer or almost spherical. It varies considerably in size, but is among 

 the largest organisms ever included with the bacteria. In length it is 25 

 to 30ju, in diameter 9 to 30ju. The cell shows a double contoured color- 

 less membrane. The interior of the cell shows a relatively compact 

 mass of strongly refractive globules 1 to 2/i in diameter. They have 

 much the same appearance as the sulfur granules of Beggiatoa, and are 

 interpreted in the same manner. The organism is observed to be slowly 

 motile, but the organ of motion was not determined. Frenzel con- 

 cluded that the closest affinities of the organism were with the bacteria. 



Lauterborn (1898, p. 95) pointed out that the organism described 

 by Frenzel was not a new species, but a form which in 1893 had been 

 shown by Lauterborn to Dr. W. Schewiakoff, who described it (1893) 

 as Achromatium (q.v.). A careful comparison of the descriptions led 

 to the conclusion that the organisms are identical ; Modderula therefore 

 lapses into sjoionomy. According to Bersa (1920, p. 231) it is also a 

 synonym of Hillhousia West and Griffiths. 



