DR. LAUDEIl LINDSAY ON AllTllONIA MELASPEKMELLA, 269 



intermediate order of Fungo-lichenes^, to be composed avowedly 

 of plauta possessing the characters of both Lichens and Fungi, 

 and which, in virtue of this double character, cannot be well 

 grouped in either of these grand orders. As so constituted, the 

 FungoMclienes would form a large and heterogeneous group; but 

 it would serve the purpose of assembling in one mass or family, 

 however diverse in the characters of its members, organisms 

 which are now lost sight of in the ranks either of Fungi or 

 Lichens, and whose true character is really most imperfectly 

 known. With the progress of microscopic research and the mul- 

 tiplication of earnest students of the Fungi and Lichens, the 

 proper aiRnities of many of them would probably soon lead to 

 their extradition from the Fungo-Uchenes, and their classification 

 among the Fungi or Lichens proper. But it will be long (if 

 ever), I fear, before the line of distinction between the lowest 

 Fungi and Lichens becomes so well marked as to admit of the 

 abolition of so useful a provisional order. 



In like manner it would be convenient to retain an order 

 (Algo-Iichenesf) for genera such as Liehina, Nostoc, Myriangium, 

 and Collema^ which partake of the characters both of Alg<e and 

 LicJienes^ for certain groups at least oi the Fahnellacece [forms 

 of Frotocoeeus] which appear to be the rudimentary conditions 

 of certain lichens, and for dubious genera such as CJiroolepus^ 

 Chrysotlirix^ SirosipJian^ and Cilicia. 



The plant which forms the text of the preceding and following 

 remarks {Arthonia melaspermella, Nyl., nov. sp.) was first sent to 

 me in 1858 by my friend Mr. Currey, the eminent Fungologist, 

 who accompanied his specimens with the following interesting 

 information, comprising all I know of its history and geographical 

 distribution. 



He describes it as " a doubtful plant, which seems to hover 



between the Fnngi and the Lichens I may mention," says 



he, " that I have had very different opinions upon the plant from 

 different correspondents. Mr. Broome tells me he has often 



* I must not be held as using this term in any other sense than that hero 

 indicated. A similar term has been employed in other senses by Lichen ologists, 

 ^-g* by Krempelhuber, whose Mt/co-lichefies is a synonym of the Caiiciacece of 

 other authors (Die Lichenen-Flora Bayems, p. 85). Under the title " J^aeudo^ 

 Lichoies^'' he classes (p. S&) certain of the genera hereinafter referred to, riz. 

 ^^rothallus^ Celidium, Scutula, Tichothecitim, 



t This view is fully, perhaps too fully, developed,^ in " Beitrag znr Flechtcn- 

 Syatematik," by Dr. Stizcnberger of Constance (Trans, of the St. Gall. Nat.- 

 Hist, SoG. for IRfil r» lM\ ! vid^ Division oi Phvco-lichenes. 



