J. G. WALLER ON PARASITIC VEGETABLE ORGANISMS. 355 



specimens do not so begin, but by a circular excavation. It is 

 covered with stiff, villous appendages, which, in parts, group round 

 globose elevations, possibly sporangia. Smaller specimens, in 

 which the yellow organic matter is absent from decay, show us 

 distinctly that here are similar circular cavities as in Fig. 14, 

 but it is more confluent. These, and the fact that one example 

 shows us globose fruit, seem distinctly to place this amongst the 

 general class of vegetable organisms parasitical in the calcareous 

 particles of these sands. 



I have previously noticed the villous character in the object given 

 in PI. XIV., Figs. 2, 3, and that this is common amongst the Fungi 

 is shown by those ranged under " Sphasria villosa," the " Venturia, 

 Pyrenophora " in the same general family. There is also the genus 

 Vermicularia, in another class, as well as Volutella. In the Peri- 

 sporacei " Chastoniuni " is remarkable for the long hairs radiating 

 around the perithecium, which is very illustrative of this species. 

 (See " Hand-book of British Fungi," pp. 438, 556, 652, 856, 925.) 

 In PI. XV., Fig. 6, is another example, but here all the endo- 

 chrome has disappeared, so also in Figs. 7 and 8. The latter seem to 

 be early conditions or forms of the same plant, and Fig. 7 shows 

 some analogy with that of PI. XIIL, Fig. 23, in its confluent 

 character. All the forms appear on the same minute fragment of 

 shell, and have not, as yet, been elsewhere found. PI. XV., Fig. 5, 

 shows an excavation of minute kind very similar to what are figured 

 by Mr. Rose as found in fish scales of the chalk. 



In Prof. Kolliker's paper in the " Quarterly Journal of Micro- 

 scopic Science," July, 1860, which is similar in its facts to what 

 appeared in that already referred to amongst the Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society, gives several figures in illustration. They have an 

 affinity in character with one or two here described, but are not 

 identical ; in the author's general views I coincide. 



In reviewing the subject, I must apologise for many imperfec- 

 tions which necessarily beset one who is here but a novice. But, 

 I have of late had but too many reminders that vita brevis est, and 

 if one waits until we think our knowledge may be more matured, it 

 would give a ready excuse for doing nothing. What I have here pre- 

 sented before you I am assured has much that is new ; it was, there- 

 fore, a duty to make it known to you. By this, there is at least 

 some chance of gaining a new light on a subject admittedly obscure. 

 A very able paper by Prof. P. M. Duncan, communicated to the Royal 



