ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 381 



their origin being polyphyletic. Neither Ascomycetes nor Basidiomycete-s 

 show the slightest direct aifinity with any existing Marine Algfe, 

 although it may be certain that they were derived from forms existing 

 in the sea. Several of the lower groups with motile antherozoids he 

 regards as the decadent survivors of Marine Algte. He traces the 

 progression of benthiclife from the sea (with regard to fungi) as (1) the 

 possible removal from water giving encysted perennation stages ; (2) 

 the saprophytic habit, with loss of chloroplasts, and " cell " organization ; 

 and (3) increased possibility of wastage in subajrial dispersal. After 

 discussing the various groups from different points of view, he states 

 that " the special biological interest of the Fungi centres in the fact 

 that owing to the adoption of an entirely new mode of heterotrophic 

 nutrition, the insistence of new problems can be traced quite indepen- 

 dently in the reproductive organisation." Of great importance is the 

 manifold evolution of the air-borne spore, a minute " plankton " of the 

 air. A. L. S. 



Contribution to the Study of the Mycological Flora of the 

 Chateau d'CEx Region. — Eug. Mayor {Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci. Nat., 1919, 

 52, 395-418). Mayor has confined his attention to fungal parasites, 

 and to certain groups only of these, Peronosporinese, Ustilaginese, 

 Uredinese, Protomycetacete, and Erysiphacese. The Uredineai bulk 

 largest in the long list of species. Locality and habitat are mostly 

 given. " A. L. S. 



Fossil Micro-organisms from the Jurassic and Cretaceous Rocks 

 of Great Britain. — David Ellis {Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 1915, 35, 

 110-2, 113-32, 2 pis.). While examining a series of slides from various 

 rocks of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, gathered together in con- 

 nexion with borings for ironstone, the author devoted special attention 

 to micro-organisms that might be associated with iron deposits. The 

 fungus which he found and described as Fhycomycitis Frodinghamii was 

 found in the Frodingham ironstone of Lincolnshire. The parts of the 

 fungus identified include hyphse, sporangia, and spores. Another 

 fungus, found in the ironstone of Raasay (North-west Scotland), and con- 

 sisting of branching hypha3 only, has been designated as Palaeomycesi a. 

 He also records an Actinomycites a and several bacteria from the same 

 or similar rocks. The organism called Phycomycitis Frodinghamii 

 seems to have had a chemiotactic affinity for iron-compounds, and may 

 have enriched the deposits where it was found. All these fossil fungi 

 were found in the cells of plant tissues that were in a rotting condition 

 when fossilizing processes took place. A. L. S. 



Rose Graft Disease. — Irwin H. Yogel {Phytopathology, 1919, 9, 

 403-12). A characteristic symptom of the disease is the occurrence of 

 lesions on the scioii of the union and just above the union, which 

 results in the sudden wilting and death of the young rose graft. 

 Pycnidia of Coniothyrium rosarum developed in these areas. This 

 fungus, which was found to cause the disease, was tested by cultures 

 and by infection experiments. The most satisfactory way of combating 

 the disease is to grow the more resistant varieties, and also to exercise 



