FIELD VOLES IN THESSALY. 



313 



invaded Thessaly was really the same species, Arvicola arvalis, 

 which occurs with us, and on which I had tested the action of 

 the bacillus. The brown rat, which belongs to the genus Mus 

 (M. decumanus), as well as a species distinguished by a 

 black longitudinal streak along the back ("Brandmaus," Mus 

 agrarius), had shown themselves proof against the action of the 

 bacillus, when fed with it. I therefore telegraphed as follows to 

 his Excellency, M. Bangabe : — 



u Before I start with my assistant, I should like to be certain that the 

 Field Vole in question is Arvicola arvalis. The species is very important, 

 as I have only established the action of the bacillus in Arvicola arvalis. 

 Please enquire in Athens, and let me know.— Loeffler." 



Next day I received the answer : — 



" It is Arvicola arvalis, called ' campagnol ' in French. — Rangabe." 



After this important preliminary was settled, I no longer 

 hesitated to try the bacteriological conclusions with the Thessalian 

 Field Vole. My preparations were quickly made. A large quantity 

 of the bacillus on obliquely stiffened "Agar Agar" in glass tubes 

 was prepared, and carefully packed in a case. Besides this, my 

 assistant, Dr. Abel, and I both took two tubes with cultivations of 

 the bacillus in our personal charge, so that, in case the large box 

 should be lost, we should have some preparations as a foundation 

 for other experiments. On Tuesday, April 5th, we started from 

 Berlin, and after four days' constant travelling via the Brenner, 

 Brindisi, Corfu and Patras, we arrived on April 9th in Athens. 

 Next morning I announced our arrival to his Excellency, 

 M. Konstantopulos, the Prime Minister. At ten o'clock arrived 

 Dr. Pampoukis, the head of the bacteriological laboratory in 

 Athens who was instructed by the Government to aid us in 

 carrying out the experiments. The bacteriological laboratory 

 in Athens, which was founded by the former Prime Minister, 

 M. Trikoupis, at the instance of M. Chatzimichalis, the Professor 

 of Pathology, forms a branch of the Pathological Institute con- 

 ducted by Prof. Chassiotis. At the Institution were a dozen 

 Thessalian Field Voles, which the Government had ordered to be 

 sent to Athens at my request. We went thither with Dr. Pam- 

 poukis to see them, and to satisfy ourselves about the important 

 question of the species. 



ZOOLOGIST. — SEPT, 1892. 2 E 



