100 



The H/ematozoa of Australian Birds. No 1. 



By J. Burton Cleland, M.D., Ch.M. (Syd.), and T. Harvey 

 Johnston, M.A., B.Sc. (Syd.), Bureau of Microbiology, 

 Sydney. 



[Read October 4, 1910.] 



Plates XXV. and XXVI. 



It is proposed in the following paper, which we hope will 

 form one of a series to be published from time to time, to 

 deal with certain minute parasites found in the blood of 

 Australian birds. In addition to descriptions of various 

 species of these haematozoa which we have recently had under 

 examination, we include a summary of the findings of previous 

 workers in Australia in this field, and also give a list of our 

 negative findings, which latter may prove of value in work- 

 ing out the intermediate hosts of some of the parasites, and 

 in establishing the extent of the wanderings of individual 

 birds of a species. It may be added further, that in no in- 

 stance were the birds ruthlessly slain, but in every case 

 skins were prepared, the body tissues and alimentary tract 

 were searched for helminths, and the stomachs and crops were 

 subjected to careful examination to ascertain the exact nature 

 of the food. The information thus gained will appear, or 

 has appeared, in appropriate quarters. It will thus be seen 

 that every possible available use was made of the specimens 

 secured. 



THE HALTERIDTA OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



In continuance of our descriptions of the blood-parasites 

 of Australian birds, we have to record the presence of examples 

 of the haemosporidian genus Halteridium in additional species. 

 Our detailed examination of these parasites from nine differ- 

 ent kinds of Australian birds has led us to consider that more 

 than one species of the parasite is present — a view we have 

 given expression to in our earlier papers, d and 2 ) But, though 

 we believe that with more complete studies of the life histories 

 these differences will receive accentuation, we have found it 

 often very difficult to describe such variations as are met with 

 in our specimens in such a way as to differentiate one species 



(i) Cleland and Johnston, Jour. Proc. Roy. Soc, N.S.W, xliii., 

 1909, pp. 75-96. 



<2) Johnston and Cleland, Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W.. xxxiv., 

 1909, pp. 50$-7. 



