a ae ee ET a eee 
several miles of pipe into a reservoir was sufficient to completely 
NOTES ON UROGLENA AMERICANA CaLk. 
G. T. Moore, Jr. 
(WITH PLATE x) 
In November 1895, at the suggestion of Dr. Farlow, I 
obtained specimens of the peculiar organism described by Cal- 
kins (1) as Uroglena Americana, and attempted to make some 
observations concerning it. The genus Uroglena, established by 
Ehrenberg (2) in 1833, referred to by Biitschli ( 3) and Stein (4), 
and considered at some length by Kent (5), has been observed 
in the public water supplies of Massachusetts and Connecticut 
_with more or less regularity since 1889. In addition to the 
original species, Calkins (6) has found two others which he des- 
cribes as U. radiata and U. Americana. Thus far I have been able 
to examine only U. Americana, and the following observations 
have been made upon that species. 
While neither U. volvox nor U. radiata have been reported as 
causing any perceptible change in the water, U. Americana pro- 
duces a very disagreeable odor, and a decided fishy oily taste. 
In the pond at Norwood, Mass., where all the material was 
obtained, the water was almost unfit for use, and caused great 
inconvenience. Calkins (7) seems to have successfully shown 
that this peculiarity of the species is due to the presence of 
numerous oil globules in the individual cells, and that contami-— 
nation takes place through the liberation of this oil rather than 
from decay. The individual cells, as well as the colonies, are 
extremely delicate and the slightest disturbance i is apt to break . 
them up. While the water in the pond at Norwood was not o 
noticeably disagreeable, the process of pumping it 
disintegrate the cells, and thus the reservoir water be po 
luted through the mechanic | breaking of of the colonies and abies a 
and Se liberation of the oil. 
1897] : 
105 
