628 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Colour-variation in Fungi.* — F. J. Seaver is preparing a mono- 

 graph of North American Hypocreales, and records some of his observa- 

 tions on the colour of different members of the group. He finds that 

 the well-known Nectria cmnabarina from cinnabar-red colour becomes, 

 with age, dark-brown, and finally almost black. In each colour-stage 

 specimens have been described as new species : N. Russell ii, N. ofl'axcata. 

 N. nigresceas, N. Melke. The writer finds similar confusion existing in 

 species of Hypocrea ; fuller details are promised with the issue of t In- 

 complete monograph. 



Local Records of Fungi."]" — C. Grassland gives a list of forty-seven 

 species that were collected on a natural history expedition to Robin 

 Hood's Bay, in the autumn of last year. Among the interesting species 

 noted was a little black mould CI aster osporium fungorum, that grows on 

 species of Corticium. 



A similar account X is given of the fungi of Littondale, in York- 

 shire. Most of the forms collected belonged to the microfungi, many of 

 them coprophilous. 



T. Gribbs § reports on the fungi of Ribblesdale ; some eighty species 

 were collected, but the weather conditions were found unfavourable, a 

 period of dry weather having followed on a cold wet summer, and checked 

 the growth of the mycelium. ■» 



The same author || describes a new Coprinus (G. cordisporus), which 

 he found on dung of horse, sheep, rabbit, etc., in various parts of York- 

 shire and Derbyshire. The spores are described as obtusely heart-shaped, 

 and compressed, front view cordate. 



W. Fowler % records the appearance of Hydnum auriscalpium at 

 Welbeck Abbey, where it was first collected in Britain by the Duchess of 

 Portland, and not since recorded for Yorkshire. John Lightfoot identified 

 it for the Duchess 140 years ago. 



C. Grassland ** describes a new species, Humaria globose-pal Ivinata, 

 found near Hebden Bridge, on sediment in disused dye-tank ; and, along 

 with this species, gives a list of plants new to Yorkshire, and discovered 

 by him and others since the publication of the " Fungus-Flora " in 1905. 



Chemistry of the Higher Fungi. ft — J. Zellner has summed up all 

 that is known of the chemical constituents of the higher fungi, as also 

 some of the microscopic forms. He takes the different substances, and 

 states where they occur, and their properties, so far as these have been 

 ascertained. Carbonates, fats, minerals, acids, colouring agents, enzymes, 

 toxins, etc., are all included in his survey. 



Parasitic Fungi. — Ducomet has studied the development of a 

 number of subcuticular fungi. In some of these, Ggcloconiam, Cuti- 

 cularia Stigmatea, and Fusicladium Pruni, the vegetative mycelium is 



* Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, xxxv. (1908) pp. 307-14. 



t Naturalist, 1907, pp. 288-9. 



% Tom. oit., pp. 350-3. § Torn, cit., pp. 395-6. 



|| Op. cit., 1903, p. 100. % Tom. cit., p. 157. 



** Tom. cit., pp. 214-18. 



ft Chemie der hohereu Pilze. Leipzig: W. Eiigelmann (1907), 257 pp. 

 XX These Sc. Paris : Remies(1907) 208 pp. (34 pis.). See also Bot. Centralbl. 

 cvii. (1908) pp. 368-9. 



