The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-10-23
cR0UI GREf11Ye 5L1Y0lsx- on 0tf 1oo0a

worm, Trichnostrongyius gracilis. Is
regarded by DR.. A f. Shipley. F. r.
s. who IS the chief authority in the
present band Of investigators. as the
real offender. and he has made valu-
/ able contributions to the knowledge
CT its life history. Although great
caution is displayed by DR.. Shipley in
giving any statement as final. II seems
fairly well established that. owing TO
some earlier cause which reduces the
bird vitality and powers of resist
ance, these parasites are able to de-
velop to such an abnormal extent
that the bird succunbs to their at.
tacks- In some instances the grouse
appear to recover. but as Mr.. F. A.
Wilson. the field naturalist to the
committee, points out. some of the
early symptoms OF grouse disease
might be confounded with those OF
moulting
This brings us to the predisposing
causes which make grouse unable
to resist the chronic wasting form Of
Illness. Is it possible that Prof Klein
was right and that form OF pneu-
nonia exists among the birds. which,
even il it does not carry them of. pre-
( disposes them to injury from the
/ wasting form of the disease? II can
! not be said that In the interim reports
I OF the committee OF inquiry any great
/ leaning to this view Is to be discov.
cred During 1905, 1906 and 1907 the
very large number of field observers.
.
/ ciated with the committee did not de
I tect one instance of the acute pneu.
monte form of the disease. and Mr.
/ Wilson has observed that some of the
I symptoms relied on by Prof. Klein In
( his published monograph are not con,
4 elusive evidence OF Its existence II
seems, therefore, that the committee
are rather reluctant on the one hand
/ to admit klein's grouse-pneumonia,
ant yet are at a loss to explain why
otherwise it is that the birds become
susceptible to the wasting sickness.
Within the last few days the Zoo
logical society OF London has issued
series of papers by DR. A. E Ship
ley on the parasitic organisms OF
which the grouse is host In these
papers the value 10 be attached to DR.
/ Cobbold's early observations is fully
/ apparent. The larvae OF the thread
I worms which prey upon the red
{ grouse exist in abundance in every
/ square foot of heather. and no doubt
/ is felt that under certain condition.
/ at present undeterInined-the lar
vac reach the two important organs
I of the bird, the lungs ard the liver
Referring TO the extreme difficulty. In
] consequence of their microscopic di
I mensions. of finding the oya upon the
/ heather. either on the stalks or in the
buds Thought they exist in countless
thousandsl. DR.. Shipley mentions a
new and peculiarly successful method
| Of examination. which he hit upon in
the autumn of last year. whilst visit
/ ing at Beaufort castle. handful OF
/ heather placed in a bottle is soaked
I in little water for some hours. ulti
mately the sediment after suitable
/ treatment Is examined microscopical-
! ly for larvae, and that with unvaryins
! wealth of material I, is stated that
| the exact relations Of the grouse dy
| COrnithomyia lagopodis) to the grouse
| is not known. 1t is. however. believed
to suck its blood and it will certainly
| bite human beings. The fly is prov!d
| ed with a lair OF great hooks on It's
| decidedly sinister aspect. 1t occurs
| freely in larders where freshly killed
! grouse have been placed