218 RELATIONSHIPS OF THE COCCACE/E 



failed to do so. In the genus Albococcus the nitrate- 

 reducing form (Alb. epidermidis) is a liquefier. As in the 

 case of Aur. mollis it seems unwise to burden the literature 

 with a name for the rare forms which reduce nitrates 

 but fail to liquefy gelatin. They may be considered as 

 " variants by suppression" from the liquefying type. 



For previous information in regard to nitrate reduction 

 one must turn, as usual, to Dyar (1895). He describes a 

 liquefying, nitrate-reducing, yellow coccus from the air 

 and identifies it with the citron-yellow micrococcus of 

 Bumm, called by Fliigge M. citreus conglomeratus and 

 by Migula M. conglomeratus. The descriptions of Fliigge 

 and Migula apply equally to M . flavus, since the action 

 on nitrates is not referred to. Since Dyar added this 

 character, however, the name he adopted may well be 

 used, modified by dropping the last term of the trinomial 

 and defined with additional characters. Dyar's Meris- 

 mopedia flava varians is a non-liquefying form, represent- 

 ing the variant by suppression to which reference has just 

 been made. The main type may be defined as follows: 



2. M. citreus (Dyar) Winslow. A saprophytic or semi- 

 parasitic coccus, found most commonly in earth, water, and 

 air, frequently also on the surfaces of the animal body. 

 Occurs singly, or in pairs, or irregular groups. Generally de- 

 colorizes by Gram. Good to abundant, yellow surface growth. 

 Reaction in dextrose broth faintly acid, in lactose broth 

 alkalin or faintly acid. Gelatin slowly liquefied. Nitrates 

 reduced to nitrites or ammonia. 



