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VOL. 1. ] Proceedings of Societies. 3t 
Sylloge Fungorum, vol. viii., Dec. 1889, By P. A. SACCARDO. 
This volume completes the great work undertaken by the author 
seven years ago, though a second volume of “ Additamenta’’ is 
promised. The amount of labor involved in bringing together, in 
connected form, diagnoses of all known species of fungi, amounting 
to 31,927, is sufficiently great to exclude any idea of critical work. 
The great benefit conferred on mycologists consists in bringing to 
their notice in accessible form all the species, and thereby greatly 
simplifying the revisions which are now in order, and which will 
greatly reduce their number. H, W. Bi: 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF Sciences. Afarch 3, 1890. President Harkness in 
the chair. 
A paper by W. J. Raymond, edited by Dr. J. G. Cooper, was read by title, and 
referred to the Publication Committee. 
Mr. Gutzkow exhibited a specimen of Cordyceps growing from the larva of a 
moth. Dr. Behr and Dr. Harkness commented upon its life history. 
Mr. T. H. Hittell read the following notice, which, on motion, was spread upon 
the minutes : 
Ernest Cosson, honorary member of this society, died at the age of 70 years, on 
the last day of 1889, at his residence in Paris. A man of generous disposition, and 
in easy circumstances, he early turned his attention to botany. Well known in 
France as the author of excellent local botanical works, he is best known abroad by 
his connection with the exploration of Algiers, to the botany of which he devoted 
the last forty years of his life, and which, delayed by his conscientious care, remains 
unfortunately unfinished. He was elected a member of this society in 1887, and 
testified his interest in our welfare by sending us publications and a large collection 
of Algerian plants, and when overtaken by his last illness was preparing to send us 
a second installment. His death is a severe loss to science, as well as to all his 
friends. 
March 17, 1890. President Harkness in the Chair. 
Dr. Harkness read a short paper on the ‘‘ Nomenclature of Organic Life.” 
Some specimens of a tuberiform growth were presented by Mr. August Ehriich, — 
of Kaweah, Tulare County. They were found in the earth, in making a mountain 
road, and were at first soft, but hardened in drying. Dr. Behr and Dr. Harkness 
discussed their origin; the latter considered them sclerotia, belonging to some fun- 
gus, perhaps Polyporus tuberosus. 
Dr. Harkness exhibited specimens of Rhytisma Arbuti, a fungus found on the 
under side of the leaves of the Madrofio (Arbutus Menziesi), on Mt. Tamalpais, 
and killing so many of the leaves that in many places the slopes have a rusty brown 
appearance, 
