CHAPTER XIV 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE PARASITIC PROTOZOA OF THE RED GROUSE 



(LAGOPUS SCOTIGUS^ WITH A NOTE ON THE GROUSE FLY l 

 By Dr H. B. Fantham 



INTRODUCTION 



IN the following paper are recorded observations made on the various parasitic 

 protozoa found in Grouse examined in connection with the "Grouse Disease" Inquiry. 

 Intro- The observations were, by force of circumstances, limited to one season, 

 auction. an( j go ^ e accoun t s O f gome of the parasites are consequently incomplete. 

 The parasitic protozoon of greatest economic importance, and to which most atten- 

 tion had to be devoted, is Eimeria (Coccidium) avium, which is the pathogenic 

 agent of a fatal disease in Grouse chicks, particularly prevalent in the spring and 

 early summer. The morphology and life-history of Eimeria avium, and the 

 results of experimental studies on Avian Coccidiosis are set forth in another part of 

 the report. 2 The remaining protozoa found in Grouse may be conveniently divided 

 into () parasites of the blood, (/3) parasites of the alimentary tract. So far I have 

 found seven protozoa parasitic in Grouse, exclusive of the Coccidium already 

 mentioned. 



(A) PARASITES FOUND IN THE BLOOD OF GROUSE. 

 Sporozoa Hsemosporidia 



1. LEUCOCYTOZOON LOVATI Seligmann and Sambon, 1907. 



This parasite was discovered in 1907 by Seligmann and Sambon in blood-films of 

 Grouse. It was found in one bird not suffering from " Grouse Disease." Sambon 

 Intro- (1 908-1909) refers again to the parasite, and states that he found it in five 

 ductory. more Grouse. Sambon gives five drawings of the parasite. 



1 Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1910. 

 Vide chapter xi. pp. 235 and 252. 



318 



