174 Second Report on Economic Zoology 



(1110 UP E. 



SUB-GROUP C. ANIMALS WHICH CONCERN MAN AS 

 CAUSING BODILY INJURY OR DISEASE TO AVILD 

 ANIMALS IN THE PRESERVATION OE WHICH HE IS 

 INTERESTED. 



Grouse Disease. 



A communication was received from Mr. R. iMuuro Ferguson, M.R., 

 regarding the great loss of money due to the disease in grouse. The 

 following communication was sent to the Board on this subject. 



Regarding this subject ]\lr. li. ]\Iunro Ferguson may l)c informed 

 that it is extremely improbable that Tapeworms are the usual cause 

 of grouse disease. 



This was pointed out by Cobbold iu 18G9 ; he stated as follows : 

 " The idea of the grouse disease being due to the prevalence of cestoid 

 entozoa was manifestly erroneous ; not only were the symptoms 

 exhibited by the infested birds entirely at variance with such a 

 notion, but the post-mortem appearances distinctly proved that the 

 disorder was due to other causes." 



Now and again there is no doubt, however, that birds succumb 

 to these parasites when present, as they often are, in very large 

 numbers. 



It is possible that certain Nematode worms cause still greater 

 mortality, but both kinds do not seem to account for the death rale 

 entirely as far as our scanty information tells us. 



Very little is known concerning the internal ptirasites of game 

 birds ; for instance, six worms only are recorded from black and red 

 grouse, whilst over forty occur amongst domesticated poultry. 



The species found in the two kinds of grouse are the following :— 



2s'ematoda. — Asraris comimr, Sohrauk (iu both kiudf<). 

 „ Ascaris vesicularis, Friielich, in Ked Gruutic. 



„ TricJiosoma longicoUe, lludolpli, in Dlack Grouse. 



(.'j.&iuUA. — * Drcpanidotaenia infimdihuliformis. 

 ,, *Fimbriaria calva, Baird. 



„ Davainea uroyalU, ^loAeer. !/a;?u"«<M/«c«s, Mehlis ? Tuiiia 



microps, Diesing? 

 „ Bacaineacircu))ivaUata,KrAhhe. T!entaliiica,]\\.u\. Txnia 



jiluriuncinata'i 

 ,, Davatnea calva, Baird. 



The two species marked with an asterisk are doubttul. 



