REPORT ON THE GROUSE DISEASE. 337 



white blood-corpucles in size and aspect; they were in groups of 

 three or four, and more or less in the process of coalescence, 

 such as is known to take place with the swarm-cells, derived from 

 the germination of the spores, in order to form a plasmodium. 



That the presence of these Fungi in the blood-vessels of the 

 liver would at once readily explain the diseased condition of the 

 liver, is obvious. As to the inflamed condition of the peritoneum 

 noticed in some cases, this would follow the congested state of 

 the liver ; and the same applies to the congestion, inflammation, 

 and even perforation of the intestine observed unmistakably 

 in two cases that had died spontaneously of the disease ; for the 

 extreme congestion of the veins of the liver might easily produce 

 that state, since the venous system of the intestines discharges 

 into the hepatic portal system. But the same Fungi may be also 

 present in the vessels of the intestine, and thus directly produce 

 the abnormal condition of this organ ; but this I have not yet 

 inquired into. 



At any rate, it will be necessary to study these bodies in the 

 fresh and living state, which I hope soon to be able to do ; and 

 further, their distribution in the diseased animals, the distribution 

 of them and their spores on the moors, and the mode of entrance 

 into the birds, will have to be carefully gone into. It is evident 

 that on such studies will depend all preventive measures. So 

 much I will assert at present, that there exists in the liver of 

 diseased birds large numbers of corpuscles which are foreign to 

 the liver tissue, and which in all respects correspond to some 

 form of low Fungi, most probably to Plasmodia. 



In conclusion, I wish to offer my best thanks for the kind 

 help and co-operation which I received from Sir Frederick 

 Graham, Bart., Mr. J. Bailey Worthington, and Mr. Leonard 

 Marshall. I have also to thank the following keepers : — James 

 Sargent, of Waterhead Moors,' Cumnock ; head-keeper Cox and 

 keeper Macdonald, of Craiglure Moors ; head. keeper Shiels, of 

 Kilkerran Moors; head-keeper Tolmie, of Blairquhan Moors; 

 James Crow and Alexander Crow, of the Flat and Stellshaw 

 Moors respectively. 



ZOOLOGIST. — SEPT. 1887. 'i D 



