DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW HAEMOPROTOZOA FROM BIRDS IN N.S.W. 89 



ment often occurred as small masses ; we could not detect 

 the nucleus in any. These were the typical forms of the 

 parasite met with. A series of very puzzling ones was, 

 however, encountered, suggesting possibly another phase 

 in the life-history of the parasite. These consisted in all 

 intermediate stages between the normal halter forms and 

 individuals in which apparently separate rounded bodies 

 occupied respective ends of the host cell. 



Definite intermediate stages in the protoplasmic bridge 

 between the two ends were seen (figs. 20, 25) in some the 

 width of this bridge being a little less than normal, in 

 others half the normal, in others a strand seen with diffi- 

 culty. The parasites presenting these phases were well 

 stained : there were no instances of its occurring in very 

 pale (male) forms. The rounded bodies were usually well 

 stained and granular and a vacuole was sometimes present 

 in one. What is the nature of this process ? Does it mean 

 that in some examples of the parasite, the young female 

 gametocyte can divide into two in the host cell? The 

 bodies we saw thus formed resembled the free rounded 

 female gametocytes and no evidence of schizony was 

 noticed. On the other hand, we have apparently traced 

 all the intermediate stages in the ordinary evolution of the 

 female gametocyte to form one rounded mature body, and 

 it is hardly to be expected that in some cases the halter 

 form should produce one mature gametocyte, in others two 

 in the same species and at the same time. 



The corpuscles average 12 x 7/*, the parasites varying in 

 size from 4/* in diameter, in the case of expressed forms, to 

 11 or 12 x 3/^ in the halter shaped organisms. 



The type slide of Halteridiumgeocichlae has been presented 

 to the Australian Museum, Sydney, co-types being retained 

 by the Bureau. 



