8 SALMON: SUPPLEMENTARY 
ment of the perithecium from the mother-mycelium is caused in 
many instances by the shrinking of the perithecium base, Neger 
remarks (p. 358): ‘Ich habe nun haufig beobachtet, dass die 
Reactionsfahigkeit der Perithecien auf Turgoranderungen sehr 
gross ist, d. h. dass bei Uebertragung eines Fruchtkorpers aus 
einem feuchtem Raum in einen Exsiccator die Gestaltveranderung 
sehr schnell erfolgt. Ware es da nicht denkbar, dass bei der 
durch Turgorabnahme herbeigefiihrten Schrumpfung des Wand- 
gewebes die Loslosung, d. h. Zerreissung der festhaltenden Mycel- 
faden, so gewaltsam erfolgt, dass das Perithecium eine starke Er- 
schiitterung erleidet und sich dabei auf die Seite legt (auch diese 
Lage ist an reife Perithecien sehr oft zu beobachten) oder sogar 
umkehrt? Es ist mir allerdings nicht gelungen, diesen Vorgang 
selbst zu constatiren.” 
Whether or not it be correct to consider that the detachment of 
the perithecium from the substratum is caused generally by the 
base of the perithecium shrinking and becoming concave, it may be 
noted that this contraction is, in one case at any rate, not essential 
to the process. This can be seen by observing ripe perithecia of 
U. circinata, Neger is in error in stating that the perithecia of 
this species do not spontaneously become free from the mycelium. 
If perfectly ripe examples of U. circinata are examined, ¢. g., those 
in Ell. & Everh. Fung. Columb. n. 110 (in herb. Kew), it will be 
found that many of the perithecia are in a reversed position, 7. ¢., 
the apex of the perithecium, covered with the numerous append- 
ages, is pressed against the surface of the leaf, while the base of 
the perithecium, to which there are usually a few mycelial threads 
attached, is exposed to view. The appendages of these fully ripe 
perithecia are always very numerous and well developed; and 
from Neger’s remark that in the specimens examined by him the 
appendages were badly developed it is evident that he was dealing 
with immature material. The reversal of the perithecia of U. 
circinata mentioned above implies of course a spontaneous loosen- 
ing of the perithecium from the mycelium. The perithecium, 
however, of this species does not, in consequence of its cellular 
structure (see above), become concave on the lower surface, so 
that it is evident that in the case of this Uncinula at all events 
some other cause brings about the detachment of the perithecium. 
