THE GENUS SARCINA 231 



noted also in many cases; but among the sarcinae such 

 observations are dubious, since it is easy to mistake small 

 packets for large single cells. In our series and from a 

 study of the literature, we have found only two characters 

 which seem to vary with sufficient sharpness to mark 

 specific types. These are the same characters which ap- 

 peared significant among the micrococci, gelatin lique- 

 faction and nitrate reduction. 



As in the genus Micrococcus, the commonest type among 

 our strains of sarcinae was distinguished by liquefaction of 

 gelatin and by failure to reduce nitrates. Sixty-five of our 

 one hundred and thirty-seven cultures fell in this group. 

 It is unnecessary to discuss in detail the distribution of 

 the members of this type in their quantitative reaction to 

 the various tests, since it corresponded closely to that for the 

 genus as a whole, which has just been stated. The gen- 

 eral group of yellow, liquefying sarcinae has long been a 

 familiar one. Two names wete given to organisms of 

 this type in 1887, S. flava by De Bary and S. liquefaciens 

 by Frankland. The former name may be adopted for the 

 type as more extensively defined. It is an interesting 

 coincidence, in view of the parallelism between this species 

 and the yellow, liquefying micrococcus, M. flaws, that the 

 corresponding name may be used. 



i. S. FLAVA (De Bary). A saprophytic or semi- parasitic 

 coccus, found most commonly in earth, water, and air, also 

 on the surfaces of the animal body. Occurs under favorable 

 conditions in packets. Generally decolorizes by Gram. 



