GROUSE DISEASE 217 



It is seen that the small number of colonies 

 of Bacillus coli, which can be cultivated from 

 the tissues of a diseased grouse, points to the 

 fact that these bacteria do not multiply to any 

 extent in the tissues. Hence it would seem 

 that no specific disease is caused by the infection 

 of these bacteria. The toxic products of the 

 bacilli, however, may be harmful, and should 

 the bacilli exist in great numbers, there is little 

 doubt that toxins would be produced which would 

 have a very deleterious effect on the health of 

 the bird. 



But let us leave the bacteria and get back 

 to the round-worms. How do they get into 

 the grouse ? Between 95 and 100 per cent, of 

 birds on different moors contain these worms. 

 There may be as many as 10,000 in round numbers 

 in one grouse, about equally divided between 

 the two caeca. Each female worm lays hundreds 

 of eggs, which are constantly passing out of the 

 bird's body and lie scattered all over Scotland. 

 These eggs give rise to larvae in about two days, 

 the larvae surround themselves about the eighth 

 day with a capsule or cyst, and undergo " a rest 

 cure." After a period of quiescence they quickly 

 change into a second and active larval form, 



