212 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



fruited Saprolegnieae and the lower fungi, our greatest English 

 authority on this subject, Dr. Berkeley, has expressed his opinion 

 that Achlya may be an aquatic form of Botrytis bassiana, the 

 fungus that attacks the silkworm. 



To sum uj3, it would appear that the fungi have been developed 

 from the lower algae, while the phanerogamic parasites and 

 saprophytes have branched out from various classes of ordinary 

 green plants — Cuscuta from twining species of the Convolvulaceae; 

 Orobanche from the Scrophulariaceae, from which in Buchnera and 

 Striga it is only separated by its parietal placentas; and the 

 Loranthaceae probably from the Santalaceae. The British sapro- 

 phytic orchids belong to an order which in warmer climes 

 possesses many epiphytic species, and this epiphytism may be 

 regarded as somewhat allied to parasitism and saprophytism. 

 Monotropa is connected, in its mode of nutrition, with Pyrola by 

 an exotic species — Pyrola aphylla — which is devoid of effective 

 chlorophyll and has scales in place of true leaves. 



I trust I have succeeded in bringing before you a few salient 

 points in connection with this subject; and I think we cannot help 

 admitting that the adaptations of plant parasites for pilfering from 

 their neighbours, and of saprophytes for investing dead matter 

 with life in a new form, are as admirable as any others in nature, 

 and that the same elaboration and finish have been given to all 

 their organs as have been bestowed on other living beings. 



The Chairman, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Turner for 

 the able manner in which he had treated this important subject, 

 referred especially to the instances given in the paper of parasites 

 on the Lepidodendrons of the Coal Measures, &c, and stated that 

 there were records of the finding in many cases of parasitical algae 

 on fossils of the Silurian period. 



January 27th, 1880. 



Mr. W. J. Milligan, Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Messrs. William Holbrook and James Steel were elected 

 ordinary members. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



Mr. A. F. Fergus exhibited several specimens of Moss-cup, 

 Peziza coccinia, and stated that he had been induced to bring this 



