PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
Cambridge Philosophical Society. 
Sarcocystis coli, n. sp. a Sarcosporidian occurring in the 
Red-faced African Mouse Bird, Colius erythromelon. By 
H. B. Fanruam, D.Sc. Lond., B.A., Christ’s College, Cambridge. 
[Read 5 May 1913.] 
(PuatE V.) 
Introduction. 
THE “red-faced” African mouse bird, Coliws erythrometon, is 
of interest to the naturalist on account of its creeping habit. This 
small bird is a forest dweller, is not particularly shy, has a general 
greenish coloration in harmony with its surroundings and 
possesses buff feathers on the head, while the eye is surrounded 
by a scarlet ring of bare skin. A fine crest is on the head of the 
bird. 
It has a new interest to the parasitologist, for I have in my 
possession a skinned specimen of the bird showing a heavy infec- 
tion with a new Sporozodn, which I name Sarcocystis coli, since 
it presents several morphological features distinct from those found 
in the Sarcosporidia of other birds. Further, as Colies are con- 
sidered by Kaffirs as good eating, it is possible that they are 
a source of sarcosporidiosis in man. 
The Sarcosporidia are most frequently found in mammals 
(including man), but they have been noted as occurring in fowls, 
ravens and blackbirds, and the spores of the species (S. rileyt) 
occurring in the duck have been described in some detail by 
Crawley (1911). A few other avian hosts have been recorded by 
Stiles (1893), but details are not known. 
VOL. XVII. PT. Ill. 15 
