(598 IJlt. II. 1!. FANTIIAM OX TllK []\[;iy'5, 



l)lonil from the lieart, liver iiiid spleen of three hirds, ])ut were 

 somewhab rare in each ca.se. On one occasion I saw the |iMr;i- 

 .sites in life; the remaining pre[)arations were fixed jind cohjureil 

 with Giemsa's stain. 



]^r. Sambon (1909) has noted the presence of an unnamed 

 Spirochfete " in smears from the pulp of young feathers, and not 

 in the general circulation " of grouse. It is possible that Sjyiro- 

 chceta layopodis and the pai-asite of feather-pulp may be identical, 

 but as details of the latter parasite are lacking, I cannot establish 

 the identity orotlierwi.se. Dr. Saml)on also thinks that lice might 

 act as " alternative hosts " for the Spirochaites. I will return to 

 the subject of transmission later. 



!S. layopodis is from 10/ito 18/t long and .is relatively broad 

 for this class of organism. In life it moves actively in the blood 

 of the host, spirally boring its way between the corpuscles. 

 ,S. lagopodis also often entwines one part of its body about the 

 other (tig. 31). The organism usually has tapering ends ((igs. 29- 

 AO). 



Though the Spirochsete is small, stained specimens show a fair 

 amount of structural detail. A nari'ow undulating membrane 

 (figs. 29-36) is present, and passes spiiully round the body. The 

 thickened border of the membrane stains bright led with Giem.sa's 

 .stain (figs. 29-34), and even when the membrane is clo.sely con- 

 ti'acted round the body of the .S|)irocha?te, the border can be 

 distinguished as a bright line (figs. 30, 32). 



The chromatin of the Spirocluete is distributed in the form of 

 bars throughout the body (figs. 29-35), and at times the.se 

 chromatin bars become joined and form a helicoid core (fig. 36) 

 traversing the entire length of the body. This latter condition 

 is comparatively rare. A basal grannie is present at either end, 

 aiid near these granules the membrane is attached. Longitudinal 

 division is usually initiated by fission of the basal granules. 



Multiplication of >S. lagopodis takes place by both longitudinal 

 and transverse division. In longitudinal division rather thick 

 Hpirocluetes divide (fig. 40), the split extending gradually from 

 one end and the daughter forms diverging more and more until 

 final separation occurs. Trausver.se division takes place in 

 relatively long organisms (fig. 3")) and two daughter forms are 

 produced. Tlie parent organism elongates somewhat during the 

 division. Very minute forms (fig. 39) about 4^ long are the 

 product of repeated divisions in both directions. Small forms 

 have been seen in the spleen (figs. 38, 39). By reference to 

 growth following division, all the variations in size and form 

 exhibited by A', lagopodis may be explained. 



llegarding the mode of tmnsmi.ssion of iS. lagopodis, it seems to 

 me that the nymphs of Lrodes ricinus, that sometimes infest 

 grouse, may be the carriers of the .Spiiocha'tes, for in the gut of 

 nymphs of Ixodes ricinus taken from grouse, I have found Spiro- 

 cha'tes which may V)e A', lagopodis. ])uring my investigations, I have 

 di.ssected in.-mv Mallopliaga, both Xirni'is ca»iei'a(/i.s and Uoniodes 



