8. Micrococcus varians Migula, 1900. (Merismopedia flava varians Dyar, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 8, 1895, 346; Migula, Syst. d. Bakt., 2, 1900, 135.) va'ri.ans. L. part. adj. varians varying. Spheres, 0.8 to 1.0 micron in diameter, oc- curring singly, in pairs and in fours. Occa- sionally cultures are found that are motile with a single flagellum, otherwise they are non-motile. Gram-variable. Gelatin colonies: Small, circular, whitish to yellow, capitate, moruloid. Gelatin stab: Scant growth. No liquefac- tion. Agar colonies: Small, yellow, raised, glistening. Agar slant: Plumose, yellow, variegated growth. Broth: Turbid, with yellow, granular sediment. Litmus milk: Acid; coagulated on boiling. Potato: Raised, dry, bright yellow, glis- tening growth. Indole not produced. Acid from glucose, lactose, sucrose, raffi- nose and frequently from glycerol and mannitol. No acid from salicin or inulin. Starch not hydrolyzed. Nitrites produced from nitrates. Ammonia produced from peptone. Utilizes NH4H2PO4 as a source of nitro- gen. Saprophytic. Aerobic. Optimum temperature, 25° C. Source: Original strains found in a con- taminated jar of sterilized milk. Habitat: Has been found in body secre- tions, dairy products, dairy utensils, dust and water, including sea water. 9. Micrococcus caseolyticus Evans, 1916. (Jour. Inf. Dis., 18, 1916, 455.) ca.se. o.ly'ti.cus. L. noun caseiis cheese; Gr. adj. lyticus able to loose; M.L. adj. caseolyticus casein-dissolving. Spheres, variable in size, occurring in clumps. Non-motile. Gram-positive. Gelatin stab: Liquefaction generally be- gins after first day and continues rapidly. Agar colonies: Yellow to orange (Evans, loc. cit.); pearly white (Hucker, N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 102, 1924, 17). Agar stroke: Yellow to orange (Evans, op. cit., 18, 1916, 455); pearly white (Hucker, op. cit., 1924, 17); luxuriant growth. Broth: Generally grows with smooth tur- bidity although certain strains give heavy precipitate with clear supernatant fluid. Litmus milk: Acid, peptonized. Whey generally clear. Potato: Scant, white growth. Certain strains may show yellow pigment. Indole not produced. Acid from glucose, lactose, maltose, man- nitol and glj^cerol. No action on rafiinose. Forms dextrorotatory lactic acid (Orla- Jensen, The Lactic Acid Bacteria, 1919, 80). Nitrites usually produced from nitrates. Asparagin and urea decomposed bj^ some strains. Utilizes NH4H2PO4 as a source of nitro- gen. Aerobic. Optimum temperature, 22° C. Saprophytic. Source: Eight cultures from a bovine udder. Habitat: Milk, dairy utensils and dairy products, especially cheese. 10. Micrococcus colpogenes Campbell and Williams, 1951. (Jour. Gen. Microbiol., 5, 1951, 897 and 904). col.po'ge.nes. Gr. noun colpus bosom, fold; Gr. v. gennaio to bear; M.L. adj. colpogenes fold-producing. Cocci occurring in clumps and occasion- ally in pairs. Non-motile. Gram-positive. Gelatin stab: No liquefaction. Agar colonies: Circular, smooth, entire, raised, glistening, yellow. Agar slant: Filiform, glistening, j^ellow streak. Broth: Moderatelj^ turbid; slight, granu- lar sediment. Litmus milk: Unchanged. Indole not produced. Hydrogen sulfide not produced. No acid or gas from glucose, lactose, su- crose, maltose, fructose, dextrin, mannose, arabinose, rhamnose, xylose, raffinose, in- ulin, mannitol, salicin, dulcitol, galactose, trehalose, inositol, cellobiose, melezitose or adonitol. Fumarate (0.5 per cent), lactate, malonate, tartrate, citrate, levulinate,
