742 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING I') 



which have been found in calcareous strata in Scotland, North America, 

 the Baltic, England, and in Australia. The author reviews the evidence 

 as to the animal or vegetable nature of the organism, and concludes 

 that the genus Girvanella, which has been variously assigned to the 

 Foraminifera, sponges, stromatoporoids, and calcareous or encrusted 

 algae, is here shown to have no claim to be regarded as one of the 

 Foraminifera, but to have strong affinity with the algae, and especially 

 with the Cyanophyceae, or blue-green algre. 



Edwards, A. M. — The Upper Neocene Deposit of Bacillaria around Boston, 

 Massachusetts. 



[A discussion of the fossil diatoms in relation to the strata from which they 

 come.] Nuov. Notar., xxiii. (1908) pp. 134-7. 



Fungi. 

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



Study of Mortierellss.* — J. Dauphin has selected the genus Mor- 

 tierella for examination chiefly from the biological standpoint. He, 

 however, treats first of all their classification, and passes under review 

 the species that have been described in this genus : he considers that 

 a number of these are to be ranked as small forms, others as only varie- 

 ties ; he adds a new variety and two new species. Throughout his 

 classification he has followed Van Tieghem in making the method of 

 branching of the sporangiophores of importance. He studied J/, poly- 

 cephala more especially for the biology of the group, and by growing it 

 from one spore to the production of zygospores he proved its homo- 

 thallic nature. Germination and growth were more rapid when a large 

 supply of air was provided for the fungus. The effect of temperature 

 was also noted, the optimum for germination being somewhat higher 

 than for the production of sporangia and spores. Growth went on 

 slowdy in the dark, more quickly in light, but in the latter case only 

 stylospores were formed ; violet and ultra-violet rays were found to 

 be indispensable ; X-rays retarded development ; radio-active bodies 

 had a paralysing effect ; spores and mycelium remained in a resting 

 condition under the influence of radium, and high atmospheric pressure 

 arrested growth. The nutritive medium was a factor of extreme 

 importance, and many experiments were made with different cultures, 

 results of which are given. Dauphin found that if other conditions 

 were favourable, the fungus would develop without oxygen. He con- 

 siders that it probably liberates oxygen from the medium in which 

 it is grown in sufficient quantity for its life-process. 



Development of Acnlya polyandra.f — M. Miicke undertook a study 

 of this fungus, to decide on the number of nuclear divisions in the 

 oogonium and the nature of the fertilisation process. He cultivated 

 the species on ants' eggs, and gives his methods of culture, staining, etc. 

 The number of nuclei in the newly formed oogonium is very large, and 

 they are rather small ; they decrease by degeneration ; those that remain 



* Ann. Sci. Nat., ser. 9, viii. (1908) pp. 1-112 (45 figs.) 



f Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell., xxvi. (1908) pp. 3G7-78 (1 pi.). 



