1898 ] BRIEFER ARTICLES 213 
former, but of shorter duration. Twenty hailstones were accurately 
measured, the largest being 25"" in diameter and 18” thick, the 
smallest 15™" by 7™. The average of the twenty was 19™" by 15". 
They were more spherical than those examined on the previous occa- 
sion. They were treated as previously outlined, but all were placed in 
a sterilized test tube, and slowly melted. Fifteen plates were made 
from gelatine, containing varying amounts of the hailstone water. 
The average number of bacteria and spores of moulds counted was 
tias per cc. The number of moulds present was far smaller than 
before. Three bacilli and two cocci were isolated. 2B. fluorescens 
liguefaciens, and B. fluorescens non-liquefaciens were again present. 
It is worthy of note that these fluorescing germs were present on 
both occasions, and, further, Bujwid also found two of this class 
present. The repeated presence of these micro-organisms lends addi- 
tional support to Bujwid’s surmise that surface water is carried up by 
the storm and congealed. The presence of so many moulds in the 
hail was probably due to contamination from the air, which at that 
time (July) contained numerous species. 
Of the remaining germs found, one closely resembles Sarcina alba 
Zimmermann, but does not liquefy gelatine even after two weeks 
rowth. Another appears to be closely allied to Bacillus candicans 
Frankland, but differs in its growth on potato and in milk. Two 
micro-organisms found do not conform to any published description 
in the literature at my disposal, and unless any other worker recog- 
nizes them as already described species, I would suggest that the 
bacillus be called B. flavus grandinis, and the coccus M. melleus 
grandinis. 
BACILLUS FLAVUS grandinis.—Found in hailstones : a large bacillus, 
with rounded ends, occurring singly and in pairs; 1 X 3p, varying 
according to the media, longer when growing in bouillon ; non-motile : 
no spore formation observed: grows readily at 20°C., sparingly at 
37°C. : aerobic, will not grow in hydrogen (Novy’s method) : does not 
liquefy gelatine : yellow (flavus)?: stains readily with all the anilines : 
in gelatine plate culture the surface colony is about 3" in diameter, 
waxy, bright yellow, and appears coarsely granular with a low power ; 
the submerged colony is perfectly round with sharp edges, and very 
coarsely granular: in gelatine stick culture, after four days’ growth, 
the line of puncture appears cloudy, and a pale lemon growth spreads 
3SaccaRDo, P. A.: Chromotaxia seu nomenclator colorum. 1894. 
