192 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



on the Grouse, where its presence must be regarded as accidental. The 

 larval stages emerge from the eggs and probably crawl on to the heather, 

 and thence on to the Grouse or other animals which come in contact 

 with the vegetation. Both larvae and nymphs have been found 

 amongst the feathers, but in small numbers and on rare occasions. 

 The tick has never been found in the crop, and it can hardly play any 

 part in infecting the bird with tapeworms. 



(ii.) Fam. TYROGLYPHID^E. Cheese and Flour Mites. 



VIII. Aleurcibius farince, de Geer. The Flour Mite, 

 Synonym : Tyroglyphus farince. Gerv. 



Mr C. Warburton has identified this small mite which was found in 

 considerable numbers on several birds arid at varying times of the 

 year. Whilst very common at Easter time, they were less abundant 

 in July. The flour-mite occurs in great numbers on all sorts of organic 

 material grain, straw, hay, tobacco, flour, cheese, dead bodies, etc. 

 At times the workmen handling corn, horses, etc., have suffered 

 much irritation and skin - eruption from the attacks of this mite. 

 There seems no doubt as to the species of this mite, but the authorities 

 on these animals express surprise that they should occur so commonly 

 on the Grouse. They have, however, been found on a large majority 

 of birds which were specially searched with the view of finding mites. 

 The specimens, some of which were taken on freshly killed Grouse, 

 contained some'red substance^in the stomach, probably blood from the 

 bird. There seems at present little reason to incriminate this mite as 

 the carrier of the tapeworm cyst. 



ENDOPARASITES 



PLATYHELMINTHES. Flat Worms. 



CESTODA. Tapeworms. 



In the alimentary canal of the Grouse are found three species 

 of tapeworm, two of the genus Davainea and one the genus 

 Hymenolepis. 



Before describing the tapeworms of Grouse in detail it is 

 necessary to refer once more to the method by which they are 

 reproduced. As already stated, we know that all tapeworms, 



