72 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Ceratocornys.* — C. A. Kofoid publishes a revision of the genus 

 Ceratocornys based on skeletal morphology. He places in the genus 

 three other species which had previously been placed in other genera of 

 the Din* (flagellates, describes a new species, gives a new description of 

 the genus, as well as an analytical key and detailed diagnoses of the 

 five species of the genus. 



Metachromatic Bodies in certain Green Alga? and Conjugatse.t — 

 N. Woronichin describes his experiments on the behaviour of meta- 

 chromatic bodies towards certain reagents, employing the methods used 

 by Guilliermond for fungi. The Algae which he experimented upon were 

 Stigeoclonium, Draparnaldia, Tetraspora, Vaucheria, Spirogyra, Zygnema, 

 Closterium, etc. The methods of work are described, and the results 

 of the use of different reagents. It is seen that the metachromatic 

 bodies in both Algae and Fungi behave in a similar manner towards a 

 number of reagents. On the other hand there is an inconstancy towards 

 the few important reagents in the behaviour of both Alga? and Fungi. 

 This fact confirms the views of Meyer, Nadson and Briillowa as to the 

 nature of the metachromatic bodies. These bodies are to be regarded 

 as a group of substances, which are different from one another, though 

 very nearly related. In this they are analogous to sugar, fats, and other 

 chemical formations which form combinations peculiar to themselves. 



Algae of the Upper Pruth. J— J. Woloszynska gives a short account 

 of the alga? living in the upper waters of the river Pruth. She divides 

 the algae of all running water into three groups : 1. Those which by 

 some means manage to find a hold, be it by haptera or by growing on 

 the lower side of stones. 2. Free-living species which flourish under the 

 protection of the first group. 3. The species which inhabit the mud. 

 Of this last group the most frequent algae of the Pruth are diatoms and 

 desmids. The author mentions four principal algae-associations. The 

 first occurs in the w r ater-falls, where Lemanea and Gladophora glomerata 

 flourish, as well as Chantransia amethystea and C. violacea, growing 

 epiphytically on Lemanea. CEdogonium and Phormidmm also occur. 

 The second association is represented by the felt-like growth on stones, 

 found most richly developed in mid-stream. The third is formed by 

 the algae which creep about in the mud. These three associations are 

 found in the main stream. The fourth is found in the shallow back- 

 waters which are cut off from the main stream, and forms a connecting 

 link between the algae of the river and those of the neighbouring swamps. 

 Other lesser associations were found which are dependent on climatic 

 conditions. The factors which govern a formation are to be sought in 

 the constant change of the level and temperature of the water ; on these 

 depends the life of all species living in the river, and it is just this 

 variability which is the unchanging law governing the flora of a moun- 

 tain stream. 



* Univ. of California Publications, Zool., vi. (1910) pp. 177-87. See also 

 Hedwigia, 1. (1910) pp. (99-100). 



t Script. Bot. Hort. Univ. Imp. St. Petersburg, xxvi. (1908-9) pp. 71-83. 

 % Bull. Internat. Acad. Sci. Cracovie, 5b (1910) pp. 346-50. 



