Cormorants — Graculus norm hoUandi<v. The Black Cormor- 

 ant, at Barcaldine, on the Alice. 



Graculus leucogaster. The little Shag ; on the Fitzroy and 

 throughout the district. 



Darter — Plotus novce holhindia', Gld, The Snake Bird on 

 the Fitzroy, at Springsure, and at Barcaldine. 



Grebes— Podiceps gularis, Gld. The Little Dabchick, in 

 lagoons, Wealwandangie, Springsure. 



NOTE ON ELEMATOMONAS IN RAT'S BLOOD. 



By T. L. Bancroft, M.B. 



(Communicated by Mr. H. Tryon^ 12th June 1888.) 



" Whilst examining rats with the intention of ascertaining if they 

 harboured embryo filaria on 24th May last, I was surprised to find 

 that the blood of these animals contained large numbers of those 

 peculiar protozoa, which have been called ha?,matomonas, and which 

 were first discovered by Lewis, of Calcutta, in rats' blood. 



There is a good account of them given in Crook's Manual of 

 Bacteriology. 



I am not aware that these blood parasites hive previously been 

 discovered in Australia, and it is therefore of great interest to 

 record the fact that the rats of Brisbane harbour them. Eight rats 

 were examined, and of these three contained the parasite." 



This parasite is a minute elongated organism belonging to the 

 sub-kingdom Protozoa. It measures about one three-hundredth 

 of an inch in length, and one five-hundredth of an inch in greatest 

 breadth It has a pointed anterior extremity and the opposite end 

 is drawn out into an exceedingly fine flagellant. There is also a 

 delicately flattened waved membrane extending the whole length of 

 the body proper. The organisms may easily b3 mistaken for 

 bacteria (spirocha?ta), and are exceedingly numerous in the blood of 

 animals subjected to their presence. They are endowed with con- 



