ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 391 



food for the young larva-. In bhe galls on Sarothamnus and Coronilla 

 emeroides, the fungus has been determined as a species of Macrophoma 

 (Sphaeropsideae) ; it is probable that the same species of beetle forms 

 both the galls on these widely distributed plants, and the wide geo- 

 graphical range also testifies to the close connexion between the beetle 

 and riie species of fungus. In the newly-formed gall the beetle passes 

 the winter as a larva, the fungus is also present in the form of a ball of 

 hyphae. Occasionally there are impurities snch as yeast fungi and 

 Coniothyrium Uguminum, the latter with small pycnidiaand minute olive- 

 green spores. A note is added on the behaviour of invading insects 

 (inquilines). Some of them evidently avoid it, others graze on it after 

 having eaten the larva:. Full descriptions of the fungi Macrophoma 

 Coronillse and Coniothyrium Uguminum are given. 



Termites and Fungi.* — Jumelle and Perrier de la Bathie write on 

 the fungus-eating ants in Madagascar. There are two kinds of ants: 

 one builds its nest in the open and does not cultivate nor eat fungi, 

 though a new species of Poalaxon has been found near the nests. Other 

 ants live on trees, and their nests also are without cultures of fungi, but 

 they contain broken up wood and galleries similar to those of the fungus- 

 eaters. There is only one species in that class, Terrms Perrieri, which 

 forms nests in woods. In the abandoned nests are found rhizomorphs 

 which produce finally conidia and stomatawith perithecia. Sclerotia are 

 also present, and a new fungus which has been determined as Xylaria 

 termttum. 



Fungi in Clay Mines.f — Perley Spaulding gives notes of a visit he 

 paid to the mines near St. Louis to study the fungi on the timbers. 

 These mines are not deep, and the timbers are placed along the hori- 

 zontal galleries to prevent the soil from falling in. There is no light, a 

 cool rather unvarying temperature, and considerable moisture. Several 

 fungi were evidently unable to form sporophores in these conditions ; 

 others fruited more or less normally. Among those noted were : Meru- 

 lius rubellus, very abundant in one mine, not found in the vicinity. 

 Fomes annosus was found once growing abundantly on a cross-piece of 

 pine wood. Fames applanatus, Lenzites betulina, Polystictes versicolor, 

 and Stereum spadiceum were found sparingly. Hydnum erinaceus was 

 found hanging from the oak timbers. H. coralloides and H. artocreas 

 also grew, though rather rare. Merulius lacrymans var. verucifer was 

 abundant on oak. Gopririus atramentarus and the edible mushroom 

 were more or less abundant. Masses of mycelium were found, but they 

 did not produce sporophores even when transferred to the outer air. 

 except in one case, when a plant of Schizophyllum commune was de- 

 veloped. 



Research on Diseases of Trees. + — Munch has studied the subject, 

 by making pure cultures and inoculation experiments with several of the 

 higher tree-fungi, and describes in detail the effect produced. 



* Kev. Gen. Hot., xxii. (1910) pp. 30-64 (9 figs.). See also Bot. Centralbl., 

 oxvi. (1911) p. L6. 



t Kept. Missouri Bot. Garden, xxi. (1910) pp. 189-95 (1 fig.). 



\ Naturw. Zeitschr. Land-Forstw., 1910, pp. 389-408, 425-47. See also Cen- 

 tralbl. Bakt.. xxix. (1911) pp. 250-9. 



Junt list, 1911 2 i) 



