A phenomenon is described which apparently resulted from a parent form of Streptococcus faecalis inhibiting the growth of the L-form of the same organism in the area of the medium immediately surrounding the classic colonial parent form. It seemed significant that both the parental form of the streptococcus and the L-form variant were isolated simultaneously and directly from a urine specimen without the purposeful intervention of laboratory manipulations, such as the introduction of "inducers" into the medium.