92 J. B. CLELAND AND T. H. JOHNSTON. 



occupied situations more or less at one end of the host cell, 

 and in H. ptilotis a single three-quarters grown parasite 

 was noticed with an irregular outline as in the largest 

 forms seen in the species Meliornis. 



The size of the red corpuscles of Meliornis novaz-hollandice 

 were 10*5 x 6/*, of its nucleus 6 x 2/*. The size of the 

 smaller forms of the parasite varied from 1 x 1//. to 6 X 

 1'5/a. Others were found 2*5 x 2'5/s 5 x 1*5/*, 8 x 2/x, 11 

 x l*5/x. The largest halter-like forms were 12 x 2/*, 13 x 

 2/x and 14 x 2/x. 



We have given this new species of Halteridium the 

 specific name of meliornis, this being the generic name of 

 its host. The type specimen has been deposited in the 

 Australian Museum, Sydney, and the co-type is being 

 retained by the Bureau of Microbiology. 



The Spermatozoa of the Honeyeaters Meliornis novce- 

 hollandice and M. sericea, (Fam. Meliphagidse), and 



THEIR RESEMBLANCE TO SPIROCHAETE-TRYPANOSOMES. 

 Plates I and II. 



Amongst the few Australian birds producing autumnal 

 as well as vernal broods, Meliornis novce-hollandice and 

 M. sericea are conspicuous. Male birds shot in March 

 and April have large testes reaching the size of small peas. 

 Whilst recently obtaining specimens of these birds for the 

 purpose of examining their blood and organs for parasites, 

 a curious coincidence occurred to us. A specimen of the 

 former species was shot early one morning, being wounded 

 in the abdomen ; dissected three hours later, blood smears 

 were made from a large clot in the abdominal cavity. 

 Stained by Giemsa, there were at once noticeable numerous 

 flagellate bodies of two types scattered between the red 

 cells. The long and narrower type often showed regular 

 spiral curves at once suggestive of a spirochaete such as 



