HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



83 



MICRO-FUNGI BATHONIENSES.* 

 No. I. 



IT occurred to me, after writing my papers on 

 " Botanical Rambles round Bath,"t that it would 

 be well to pursue a like plan with the Micro-Fungi 

 of the district. I, therefore, during parts of the year 

 1SS1, added to my list of the fungi I had already 

 found here, and went carefully over old ground, in 

 order to be certain of localities. 



In these papers I purpose to give the result of my 

 researches hitherto, with the understanding that, at 

 present, they are to 'be considered in no way complete 

 or exhaustive. 



The same locality, so rich with many flowers, will 

 be also found to furnish not a few micro-fungi. I 

 mean the lane leading from the top of Bathwick-Hill 

 to Hampton Down.J Here, just at the entrance to 

 the path leading through a small coppice, I found on 

 a fir-tree Peridermium pini, May 1879. So abun- 

 dant was this fungus, that it was apparent to any 

 one there was something wrong with the leaves of 

 the tree. 



This was a good find, as P. pini is only occasion- 

 ally met with in England, though it is common in 

 Scotland. 



This fungus is a worthy addition to the cabinet ; 

 it has many points of interest. 



Besides the interesting structure of the peridium, 

 which is easy of examination in this particular fungus, 

 P. pini also has the largest spermatia yet examined. 



Dr. Cooke informs us that they have a length 

 equal to ^ inch, but their width is rarely more than 

 jjjJ^jj while in some the length does not exceed 

 the width of those just named. § I offered this 

 fungus in Science-Gossip for July, 1879, and as 

 but very few availed themselves of the opportunity to 

 possess a specimen, I have still some to give away to 

 any one who sends a stamped and directed envelope 

 to 4, Darlington Place, Bath. 



In the same lane may be found sEcidium ranun- 

 tulacearum on the leaves of R.ficaria and R. repens. 



On May 20th, 1879, 1 found sE. Viola on the banks 

 of the road leading to Claverton, but it was by no 

 means plentiful, and I have not found it largely dis- 

 tributed in this locality. VE. Tussilaginis on Tussilago 

 farfara, sides of Brass Knocker Hill, and for the most 

 part wherever the leaves of the plant are found. 



JE. Taraxaci on leaves of Lcontodon Taraxacum, 

 banks of Canal, Limpley-Stoke ; by no means 

 plentiful. 



I have once or twice found JE. quadrifidum on 



• [We are sorry that pressure of matter has obliged us to 

 liold over these -valuable papers for a long period, but their 

 apoearance at this time of the year will prove very seasonable. 

 —Ed. S.-G.] 



+ Science-Gossip, 1880, pp. 229-274. 



% Science-Gossip, 1880, p. 229. 



$ Cooke's " Rust, Smut," &c, p. 25, 3rd edition. 



Anemone coronaria, in the gardens of Turleigh Villa, 

 but I have not met with it elsewhere. 



Passing on to Puccinia, I have only noted P. Saxi- 

 fragarum on Adoxa moschatellina, and P. Umbellife- 

 rarum on Bunium Jlexuosum. Both are plentiful in 

 the lane leading to Hampton Down. Lecythea Rosa 

 I find every year on a sweet-briar hedge in Turleigh 

 Villa Gardens, in great plenty.* 



Trichobasis Geranii on Geranium molle, banks of 

 Avon and Kennet Canal, Limpley-Stoke. 



These, then, are just a few forms which may be 

 found during the early months of the year. 



In my next paper I shall furnish a list of other 

 specimens, to be found later on in the year. 



I hope that others will follow my example, and 

 endeavour to gain a knowledge of the micro-fungi 

 of their district. 



The work will be found one of pleasure, and may 

 be of much use, for it has been most truly remarked 

 by one of our greatest naturalists, "that that district 

 produces the greatest variety which is the most 

 examined. "f 



Charles F. W. T. Williams. 



Path. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES ON THE SCHIZOMYCETES. 



[Continued from Vol. XVIII. page 276.] 



NO. V. 



XI. SPlROCHiETA, Ehrenberg. Cells united in 

 long slender threads, which present a considerable 

 number of close spiral turns. The threads are very 

 actively motile ; in fact they swim forwards or back- 

 wards, rotating round their longitudinal axis, and 

 can moreover bend themselves in the most varied 

 manner. Not forming a zooglcea, but often felted in 

 dense tufts. 



Distinguished from Spirillum by the long, closely wound, 

 flexile threads. 



52. S. plicatilis, Ehbg. 



Spirillum plicattlc, Dujardin. 

 Spirulina plicatilis, Cohn. 

 Threads very short and slender, with numerous 

 close spirals; articulated; blunt at the ends, 110- 

 225 n long (according to Rabenhorst), diameter of 

 the single joints (and thickness of the threads) 2\ /*, 

 according to Ehrenberg. 

 In bog- water, among algae. 



This species is said by Koch to be distinguished from the 

 others especially by the doubly undulated contour of its fila- 

 ments. But still filaments with a simple spiral are very 

 abundant. 



* SCIENCE-GOSSIP, 1880, p. 230. 



t White's " Selborne," Letter xi 



