ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 87 



of certain mineral substances, e.g. potassium or phosphorus, causes a 

 starvation of the fungus ; partial etiolation of the host, or any other 

 hindrance to free nutrition, assimilation, transpiration, &c, also act 

 detrimentally to the well-being of the mycele. 



L. Lewton-Brain * has studied the parasitism of Cordyceps ophioglos- 

 soides on various species of Elaphomyccs. The connection between the 

 two fungi appears to be one of true parasitism ; but nothing in tbe shape 

 of a definite haustorium could be made out in the Cordyceps. Fusion 

 takes place between the hyphaj of the two species, the adjoining walls 

 fusing and becoming considerably thinner. ElapJwmyccs variegatus 

 forms a mycorhiza with the roots of conifers, presenting different forms 

 under different conditions. 



J. Eriksson f has an elaborate memoir on the origin and propagation 

 of the rust of cereals, in which he includes four species, — Puccinia 

 graminis, P. glumarum, P. triticina, and P. coronifera. 



Phalloidese .% — Prof. E. Fischer describes the development of the re- 

 ceptacle in a number of genera and species of Phalloideae, — Clathrella 

 chrysomycelina, C. pseudocancellata sp. n., Blumenavia rhacodes, Dictyo- 

 pliora irjricina, Itajahja galericulata, Echinophattus Lauterbachii, Mutinus 

 Zenkeri, M. Nymanianus. A description is given in detail of all new 

 species described since 1893. All the pseudoparenchymatous parts of 

 the receptacle in the Phallaceaa and Olathraceaa are regarded by the 

 author as a paraphyse structure which fills up the sterile portions of the 

 gleba-chamber and is homologous with the cortical layer of the surface 

 of the receptacle. 



The Phalloideaa consist of two series, the Phallaceoe and the 

 Clathraceae. The origin of the latter may be traced to Phallogaster, of 

 the former to the Secotiea. The Gastromycetes cannot be regarded as 

 a single independent series of forms ; but must be arranged in a number 

 of parallel rows, viz. the Secotiaceae, Hysterangiaceae, Hymenogastraceaa 

 (with the Nidulariaceae as a side-branch), Podaxacere, Sclerodermataceee, 

 Sphaerobolaceai, and Tulostomatacese. 



Microbe of Piedra.§— P. S. de Magalhaes studied the development 

 of the parasite of this disease in hanging drops, the medium being 

 gelatin or sugar-gelatin. Thin filaments were observed to grow from 

 the nodosities on the hairs. The filaments were divided by transverse 

 septa into short segments. In their interior, while still young, small 

 granules could be made out, and in later stages chains of spores. The 

 spores were terminal or inclosed in the continuity of the filament, and 

 from any one a fresh mycelial filament might arise. 



The presence and the appearance of tbe parasite in the hair were 

 studied by the aid of various stains which showed up the filaments and 

 the spores. The action of caustic potash solution was found to be 

 detrimental. 



• Tom. cit, pp. 521-30 (1 pi.). 



t Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.;, xiv. (1901) pp. 1-124 (1 pi. and 2 figs.). 

 X Denkschr. schweiz. naturf. Ges. Bern, xxxvi. (1900) 84 pp., G pis., aud G figs. 

 See Bot. Centralbl., lxxxvii. (1901) p. 259. Of. this Journal, 1897, p. 153. 

 § Comptes Rendus. exxxiii. (1901) pp. G01-3. 



