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



noticed. We believe, however, that specific differences do 

 exist between many of the forms, in as much as we find 

 considerable variation in the size of the parasites, the 

 amount of melanin, and the presence or absence of granules 

 in the protoplasm. These differences are slight and hard to 

 define and the question of specificity is perhaps best left 

 to the future to decide. 



Halteridium of Catheturus Lathami (M. 7). In this 

 megapode, the 4 Brush Turkey,' these parasites were found 

 in five out of six birds obtained by Dr. Bancroft near 

 Eidsvold, Queensland. They were numerous in a specimen 

 obtained in November and one in March: in four other 

 March specimens, they were few in three and absent in 

 one. The parasites themselves showed conspicuous male 

 and female forms. They occupied one side and the ends 

 of the host cells but did not overlap the nucleus on the far 

 side. Pigment was prominent as coarse grains or rods, 

 sometimes collected at one end. Vacuolar spaces (? arte- 

 facts) were often present at one or both ends. Rounded 

 forms, bulging the host-cell opposite its nucleus, were seen. 



Halteridium of Platycereus adelaidcE (M. 336). In a bird 

 of this species shot near Adelaide in May, 1911, halteridia 

 were found occupying nearly all the available space in the 

 host cells except on the far side of the nucleus. 



Halteridium of Merops omatus (M. 396). In the Bee- 

 eater, halteridia were found in three out of four specimens 

 sent by Dr. Bancroft from Eidsvold, Q. The birds were 

 secured in October, December and March. The parasites 

 were present in moderate numbers and presented characters 

 differing considerably, more especially as regards granules 

 in the protoplasm. In the first specimen, the halteridia 

 were half-grown and oval with very little pigment; in the 

 second, they extended a little beyond the nucleus of the 

 host-cell and were either pale or finely granular. Melanin 



