Fteding Insects with Bacilli. By Br. R. L. Maddox. 603 



copious dejection on the side of the tumbler, consisting of sohd and 

 fluid matter. The tumbler was removed and a fresh one sub- 

 stituted. Part of the excreta was taken up by a flattened clean 

 needle and spread on some clean cover-glasses and allowed to dry ; 

 also examined wet ; the bacilli were not in motion ; one of each of 

 the covers was then stained with rose-anilin acetate in »lycerin, 

 the others with a watery solution of methyl-violet. Amono- the 

 debris of the excreta of the wasp, which contained some fatty 

 substance, were many of the " comma " bacilli, some micrococci, and 

 some short straight bacilli. In the dejection from the bee, the 

 " comma " bacilU were very abundant, as likewise the micrococci, 

 mingled with some pollen-grains. On the 25th they were all 

 again fed with the liquefied culture, but on the 2Gth the sugar was 

 moistened with distilled water only. On the 27th they were all fed 

 as on the 25th. On the 28th the injured blowfly was found dead ; 

 it was not examined. The others were fed with the curved bacilli 

 culture. Another bee was caught and put into the tumbler with 

 the two bees — there was an instant recognition and welcome by 

 the second bee — they were each seen to partake of the moistened 

 sugar. 



On the same day a very large humble bee was captured, placed in 

 captivity under similar conditions, and fed in the same way with 

 the liquefied gelatin culture, of which it partook freely. 



On the 29th all were again fed in the same way, save the bee 

 which had been the first caught. It was found lying on its back 

 and soon died. It was easily recognised as the first one, by being 

 smaller than the other two. It was at once examined. A section 

 was made at each side of the abdomen and the abdominal plates 

 lifted, the visoera were removed to a clean slide with some distilled 

 water freshly boiled, then placed on a cover with some rose- 

 anilin in glycerin and spread out. Some of the water the viscera 

 had been placed in was put on thin covers, allowed to dry, then 

 stained and examined, whilst another portion was examined wet 

 and without staining, when several curved bacilli were seen in each 

 field, many of them in active motion and among them numerous 

 micrococci. The stained covers showed also the " comma " bacilli and 

 micrococci. This examination took some time, hence the viscera 

 were much overstaiiied ; no soaking unfortunately detached the 

 stain sufficiently for the slide to be of use for further investigation. 

 The 30th the rest were fed as before, save the blowfly in 

 company with the wasp, which had succumbed ; the legs and wings 

 had been bitten off and part of the thorax destroyed by the wasp. 

 Part of the contents of the abdominal cavity, the perivisceral fluid, 

 was spread out on a thin cover and showed a few curved bacilli 

 and short rods, also some micrococci, but none abundant ; some of 

 the curved bacilli had a very slight motion. 



