ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY. ETC. 627 



Wehmer, C. — Versuche uber Mucorineengarung. (Kesearch on fermentation by 

 Mucor.) 



[The research was carried on under varying conditions of media and aeration, 

 and the different results are noted. Mucor javanicus and M. racemosut 

 were used in the cultures.] Centralbl. Baht., xiv. (1905) pp. 556-72. 



Lichens. 

 (By A. Lorbain Smith, F.L.S.) 



Lichens of Finisterre.* — Picquenard prefaces his list of Finisterre 

 lichens by an account of the distribution of these plants in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood. He also discusses the influence of climate and 

 altitude, and compares the lichen flora of the district with that of other 

 parts of the country. He finds certain maritime forms, such as Physcia 

 fiavic-ans and Ramalina scopulorum, growing on rocks far in the interior, 

 and he explains their presence by the action of the wind, which has 

 disseminated these species. He follows the methods of classification 

 adopted by Boistel. Most of the species recorded have been collected by 

 himself, or by colleagues working with him, but he has made use of 

 existing herbaria to complete the lists. 



Classification of Lichens.f — Albert Schneider writes a paper on the 

 present position of systematic Lichenology. He sums up his views on 

 .the question thus : — 



1. While some authorities are satisfied that lichens deserve to be 

 recognised as an autonomous group, others are not ready to admit this. 

 This difference of opinion does not cause any serious confusion in the 

 conception of lichen groups and species. 



2. There is great confusion with regard to the limitation of lichen 

 species. The number of good species is in all probability about 4000. 

 The number actually described of species, varieties, and forms, is about 

 20,000. 



3. The system of classification proposed by Zahlbruckner, in Engler 

 and Prantl's " Pflanzenfamilien " is excellent, and should be generally 

 adopted. This would very materially facilitate the work of studying the 

 various groups more carefully, thus perfecting our knowledge of lichens 

 more and more, and making it possible to form a more perfect system in 

 the near future. 



Schneider considers that Zahlbruckner gives too much systematic 

 importance to the thecial characters. 



Lichen Flora in the Neighbourhood of Amberg4 — Michael 

 Lederer has collected Lichens near Amberg in Bavaria for some years, 

 and has found 75 genera, 220 species, and 54 forms. The country 

 round was on the whole rather unfavourable, as there are no old rocks, 

 and large forests of beech and fir are wanting. He arranges them as 

 shrubby, leafy, and crustaceous forms, the latter including the largest 



* Bull. Acad internat. Ge'ogr. botan., Le Mans, 1904, 132 pp. See also Bot. 

 Centralbl., xcviii. (1905) pp. 657-8. ; 



t Torreya, v. (1905) pp. 79-82. * Ann. Mycol., iii. (1905) pp. 257-84. 



