ZOOLOGY A.ND BOTANY, MICKOSCOPY, ETC. 393 



or of the spores. At the end an alphabetical list is given of species that 

 are synonyms, wrong determinations, etc. An index of the species 

 described is also given. Many of the fungi are. illustrated by photo- 

 graphs. 



Cytology of Fungi.* — J. Ramsbottom has given a long review of 

 the cytological work on fungi published during the year. It is a com- 

 plete record, as far as possible, in the present upheaval, of a great amount 

 of work. In Phycomycetes the discussion centres round fertilization, 

 especially in Phytophthora, and the subsequent behaviour of the oogonia 

 with spore formation, etc. The Discomycetes have been examined — not 

 only the larger forms, but also minute genera such as Erysiphe, several 

 forms of Pyrenomycetes such as Peckiella (Hypomyces), and Polystigma. 

 Ustilagineae and Uredinese have been extensively investigated during 

 the year, and the results obtained are fully dealt with. Finally, in 

 Basidiomycetes there are papers on the development of the basidia in 

 Tremella and Dacryomyces, and of the basidia in Eocronartium, which 

 much resembles Typhula muscicola. A bibliography of all the papers 

 under review is added ; there are twenty-one of these, and the author 

 explains that still other papers have been inaccessible " owing to the 

 present discontent." 



Fungi in the Nests of Ants. f— J. S. Bayliss Elliott describes fungi 

 found in the nests of two British ants, Lasius fuliginosus and L. umbratus. 

 The fungi are associated with the black earthy brittle substance known 

 as " carton," which the ants use in constructing their nests. The first 

 to be described, Gladosporium myrmeeophilum, had been discovered on 

 the Continent and wrongly placed in Gladotrichum. The fungus is dark 

 coloured, and conidia on the freshly examined specimens were scarce, 

 probably having been eaten by the ants. Cultures were successfully 

 made and the true mode of fructification observed. 



The second species, Hormiscium pithyophilum var. myrmecophilum, 

 grew on the carton of the nests of L. umbratus, and as the mycelium is 

 very dark coloured it gave the carton the characteristic blackish appear- 

 ance. The species of fungus grows on the leaves of pines, firs and yews, 

 and as the ants in question sometimes make their nests at the roots of 

 decayed conifer trees, etc., the source of infection may have been infected 

 pine-needles. These fungi were found in all the nests examined from 

 whatever locality ; no other fungi were found. The author suggests 

 that they were probably weeded out by the ants. 



British Mycology.} — In the recently published Transactions of the 

 British Mycological Society prominence is given to the work of the 

 members at the annual forays in spring and autumn. The spring foray 

 of last year took place at Symonds Yat, Gloucestershire, and many 

 unusual species were collected by the members, several of them new or 

 rare to our Flora. About two hundred species in all were collected. 



* Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc, v. (1915) pp. 85-125. 



t Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc, v. (1915) pp. 138-42 (1 pi.). 



X Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc, v. (1915) pp. 1-66. 



