1920.] 
Natural-history Notes. 
119 
Measurements of host erythrocytes : 
Average Average 
Length. Breadth. 
Corpuscles 
Nuclei 
11*2 fx 6*5 /x 
5-2 fx 2*5 fx 
Measurements of host erythrocytes containing parasites 
Average Average 
Length. Breadth. 
Corpuscles 
Nuclei 
12-3 t a 7*3 /x 
4*4 jx 2-5 fx 
Description of Six Successive Parasites. —(1.) Oval in form ; measures 
6*4 fx X 4*8 fx ; protoplasm pale blue ; nucleus spherical and central in 
position ; eleven granules of melanin towards one end. 
(2.) Spherical in form ; measures 6-4 fx in diameter ; protoplasm pale 
blue ; nucleus unstained ; four large granules of melanin at periphery. 
(3.) Oval in form ; measures 6-4 /x x 4-8 /x ; protoplasm pale blue ; 
nucleus appears as small rod near centre ; sixteen scattered granules of 
melanin. 
(4.) Oval in form ; measures 8 /x X 6-4 fx ; protoplasm dark blue ; 
nucleus unstained ; nine granules of melanin at one end. 
(5.) Spherical in form ; measures 3-2 /x in diameter ; protoplasm pale 
blue ; nucleus unstained ; four small granules of melanin, central in position. 
(6.) Oval in form ; measures 6-4 /x x 3*2 /x ; protoplasm dark blue ; 
nucleus comprised of three strands, central in position ; four large granules 
of melanin at one end. 
It would be interesting to ascertain the mortality amongst native 
birds from this disease. In experiments on 560 canaries E. and E. T. 
Sergent* found that all could be infected by the bite of an infected Culex. 
The incubation period was from three to ten days, and this was followed 
by an acute infection lasting about nine days and causing a mortality of 
61*3 per cent. 
Sanction has been obtained from the Minister of Internal Affairs to 
shoot a limited number of native birds, and possibly malaria will be found 
in numerous species. 
A type slide of this parasite has been deposited in the Dominion Museum 
Wellington. 
OCCULTATIONS OF A STAR BY THE PLANET 
JUPITER IN 1920. 
Bv Arthur Burnett. 
(Extract from Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 80, No. 1, 
November, 1919.) 
Occultation of B.D. + 17° 2028 magnitude 9.0 by Jupiter, 1920, June 7. 
Geocentric conjunction in R.A., 1920, June 7, 19 h. 46 m. G.M.T. 
Declination of plane! + 17° 26' 4"'5. 
Declination of star -j- 17° 26' 17"'4. 
An occultation lasting from 19 h. G.M.T. to 20 h. G.M.T. should be visible 
from eastern Australia and New Zealand. 
* E. Sergent and E. T. Sergent, Malaria in Birds produced by Plasmodium 
relictum (Seu Proteosoma), Ann. de VInst. Pasteur, vol. 32, p. 382, 1918. 
