PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 1107 



Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell said that the subject of grouse disease was 

 always more or less attractive to those who were interested in these 

 birds, but yet nobody seemed to know with any certainty what it 

 really was. A short time ago two grouse which had been found dead 

 on one of the moors were sent up to him, and he had made an exami- 

 nation of them, with the idea of ascertaining if there were any 

 appearances in their organs which would throw any light upon the 

 subject. There were, of course, any number of theories to account for 

 the disease, and it had been often said that it was due to the presence 

 of animal parasites in the liver. Another opinion was that it was 

 caused by a worm (Strongylus) which was found by Dr. Cobbold, and 

 was considered by him to have been the undoubted source. It was 

 also eaid to be caused by a species of tapeworm (Taenia). He had, 

 therefore, carefully examined the two grouse in question, but found 

 all their organs healthy, with no sign of any disease likely to account 

 for their death. Nothing of the nature of Coccidia could be discovered 

 in the liver, and though he carefully examined the large caeca he 

 failed altogether to find Dr. Cobbold's parasite ; but he found that 

 about six inches of the intestine was occupied by Taenia calva. 

 This appeared at first to be of some importance, becaiise when the 

 large size of this tapeworm was considered, it was easy to suppose 

 that a considerable stoppage might be caused by it. One of the 

 grouse had two tapeworms, and the other had three. The former of 

 these had its faeces quite healthy, the latter had them more watery ; 

 but so far as appearances were concerned he came to the opinion that 

 if the grouse were otherwise healthy and well nourished, probably 

 the tapeworms were not doing very much harm ; and whilst the grouse 

 with the two tapeworms was in rather an emaciated condition, the 

 one with three was in good condition aud apparently perfectly 

 healthy. He therefore came to the conclusion that the tapeworms 

 were neither the immediate nor the remote cause of the death of the 

 two grouse, and that they neither died from Dr. Cobbold's declared 

 cause, nor from the presence of Coccidia in the liver. He was 

 inclined to the opinion — which he believed was held by many sports- 

 men and gamekeepers — that the disease was due to some condition of 

 the heather, or whatever else the birds fed upon, rather than to the 

 attacks of animal parasites. 



Mr. J. .Tory's note on a needle for manipulating objects in Canada 

 balsam was read by Mr. Crisp (supra, p. 1098). 



Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell said that during the present year he had been 

 interested in a worm, the origin of which was undoubtedly exotic. 

 It appeared to have been first noticed here in 1878, in the Palm-house 

 at Kew, fx - om which circumstance it had received the name of Bipalium 

 hewense. Subsequently it was found at Welbeck, and since then at 

 the Zoological Gardens and other places which were in direct relation 

 with Kew. More recently he had received it from various corre- 

 spondents, some of whom were not in relation with Kew, but all were 

 agreed that it had come to them in connection with orchids, and 



4 c 2 



