THE GENUS AUROCOCCUS 185 



produced a distinctly weaker growth on the streak than was 

 characteristic of Aur. aureus. Forty-nine cultures exhibited 

 these general characters. Thirty-four of them were from 

 the animal body; only one, however, was associated with 

 diseased conditions, which is perhaps significant in view 

 of the general weakness of these strains. Fourteen cul- 

 tures, a large proportion, were from the air. In relation 

 to the Gram stain and in the power of dextrose fermenta- 

 tion these forms resembled Aur. aureus. In lactose broth, 

 on the other hand, they were less active. Thirteen of 

 the forty-nine cultures formed no acid, and twenty-eight 

 more produced less than .005 normal. These forms were 

 notably favored by the body temperature. Eighteen of 

 the forty-nine grew better at 37 degrees than at 20 degrees, 

 while 75 per cent of the Aur. aureus strain grew equally 

 at the two temperatures. 



This type is apparently an offshoot from the Aur. aureus 

 which has lost the power of liquefying gelatin and of fer- 

 menting lactose, and which- grows more feebly on media 

 than the former species. The frequent occurrence of non- 

 liquefying orange cocci seems to warrant the recognition 

 of this type center by a specific name. It appears to be 

 the form described by Cohn under the name M. auran- 

 tiacus; and M. siccus, Migula, Str. ochroleucus (Prove), 

 Trevisan, and Str. aurantiacus (Bruyning), Chester, are 

 probably synonyms. Cohn's name is, of course, the earli- 

 est and should stand for the type, which may be defined 

 as follows: 



