319 
On some facts tending to show the probability of the Conversion of Asc1 
into SPORES in certain FUNGI; by the Rev. M.J. BERKELEY, M.A., 
F.L.S., and C. E. Broome, Ese., M.A. 
Some very interesting observations on the supposed spermatozoids 
of Lichens, and their relation to the spores of certain genera of Fungi, 
such as Cytispora, Septoria, and other sporophorous Æypoxylacee, were 
laid before the French Academy by our excellent friend Mons. L. R. 
Tulasne, on the 24th and 31st of March of the present year. He has 
not confirmed the observations of M. Itzigsohn as to the mode of growth 
or activity of the contents of the black specks so common on the fronds 
of Lichens, and which have been conjectured, for half a century, to 
contain the male organs, though without attracting the attention which 
they deserved. - It may be observed, however, that in Borrera ciliaris, 
the species more immediately examined by Itzigsohn, the pustule when 
young is filled with cellular tissue, as indeed is the case with those 
Spherie, such as S. herbarum, which we have examined at an early 
period of growth; that each cell contains a distinct nucleus, and that 
when the oblong bodies, endowed with a slight molecular action but 
by no means with any great mobility, are present in extreme pro- 
fusion, not only is the cellular tissue still observable, but a very careful 
examination with a first-rate compound microscope, and also with deep 
doublets, has failed to detect anything like sporophores, and left a 
complete conviction that the bodies were indeed produced within the 
cells. Indeed it was believed that a sort of oscillating motion, as of a 
` body attached at one extremity, was observed before the corpuscles had — 
attained their freedom. It is possible, therefore, that both M. Itzigsohn 
and M. Tulasne may be correct, and that much still remains to be dis- — 
covered with respect to the stractural as well as ~~ piecing : 
relation of these bodies. K- 
M. Tulasne, it should be observed, with a commendable solion 
does not profess to come to any distinct conclusion respecting the : 
nature of the bodies in question, or of the naked spores of many © 
Hypoxylaceous Fungi, which resemble some of them so closely as to 
indicate something more than mere analogy, especially when the fact is 
taken into consideration that a vast portion of the supposed species of 
certain genera are so constantly connected with ascophorous Spheria as — 
to make it highly probable that, notwithstanding the immense difference __ 
VOL, III. 27 2 
