ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 91 



rhiztt cypericola (Uustilagineae), which forms tubercles on the roots, 

 brown or black when mature. Infection in the latter case probably 

 takes place by a root-hair. 



Bilgram, Hugo — Unusual forms of Myxomycetes. 



[Sessile sporangia of Physarum pulcherrimum and stalked forms of Peri- 

 chiena chrysospora, both very rare.] 



Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., lxii. (1910) pp. 271-2. 



Borrell, W. H. — Norfolk Mycetozoa. 



[Supplemental list (one, Orcadella operculata, new to this country).] 



Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc, ix. (1909-10) pp. 106-7. 



Ktjsano, S. — Studies on the Chemotactic and other Reactions of the Swarm- 

 spores of Myxomycetes. 



[Experiments were made with various chemical solutions.] 



Coll. Agric. Imp. Univ. Tokyo II., i. (1909) pp. 1-83 (1 fig.) 

 See also Bot. Centralbl., cxiv. pp. 383-5. 



Schizophyta. 

 Schizomycetes. 



Comparative Study of Coli-form Organisms.* — R. Burri and P. 

 Andrejew have investigated a number of organisms allied to Bacillus 

 coli, which do not ferment lactose or saccharose naturally, but will after 

 some training attack the latter sugar. Five bacteria from fermenting 

 grass, and five from fresh cow dung, were studied. Five paratyphoid 

 strains were used for purposes of comparison. In most points, all these 

 organisms resembled the paratyphoid bacillus closely, but were distin- 

 guished by agglutination tests. Further investigation showed that 

 these strains could be separated into three well-marked groups, distin- 

 guished by their cultural reactions and biochemical affinities. The 

 organisms obtained from cattle gave the indol reaction, but did not 

 yield tryptophan, whereas the grass bacilli gave a positive tryptophan 

 reaction, but failed to produce indol. The authors conclude that a 

 more precise identification of Bacillus coli should be made, before 

 adducing its presence in water or milk as evidence of faecal contamina- 

 tion. 



Bacteriology of Appendicitis. f — Heile gives an account of his 

 investigations of the micro-organisms associated with appendicitis. In 

 nine early cases, where the disease was circumscribed, he found a 

 streptococcus six times, Bacillus coli twice, and a mixed growth of 

 streptococci and B. coli in the remaining case. This streptococcus 

 showed some peculiarities on cultivation. It was strongly hemolytic 

 when grown on blood-agar. Colonies on nutrient agar produced a 

 characteristic brownish-red pigment. This organism was found to be 

 highly pathogenic to mice and rabbits, less markedly so to guinea-pigs. 

 Smear preparations from the contents of the appendix showed that the 

 leucocytes were rapidly ingesting these cocci, and active phagocytosis 

 could also be demonstrated experimentally. This streptococcus was 



* Centralbl. Bakt., l^ Abt. Orig., hi. (1910) pp. 217-33. 

 t Tom. oit., pp. 233- 41 . 



