228 THAXTEH. 



Although a considerable number of specimens of this form have been 

 examined, few of the females are in perfect condition and I have had 

 some hesitation in separating it from the smaller D. ohliquescptatus; 

 although the differences which appear to distinguish the two seem 

 constant. In the present species the dark septa of the appendages 

 are always horizontal, the secondary receptacle consists of but two 

 cells bearing a single secondary appendage, while in the male the 

 antheridia lack the abrupt distinction between its successive regions 

 which characterize D. ohliquescptatus, as well as the shorter recurved 

 neck which gives the latter its greater individuality. 



The species belongs to a small group of forms on the same 

 host, characterized by the presence of adventitious branches from 

 the basal cell of the primary appendage, which are most highly 

 developed, through successive branching, in D. ramosus. The 

 perithecium normally develops from the first cell of the secondary 

 receptacle, next the subbasal cell; but if it is unfertilized or its growth 

 for any reason arrested, one may arise from the second cell, which 

 also gives rise to the secondary appendage and is subtended by the 

 latter. A fourth species of this type is known to me from Jamaica, 

 but the material- is not sufficient to warrant its description. In 

 general habit all these forms resemble species of Dimcromyccs more 

 closely than the ordinary types of Dimorphomyces, and although the 

 relations of the basal and primary subbasal cells are those characteris- 

 tic of the latter genus, they form, with D. Nccrotalis and some of the 

 acarine types, a series of connecting links between the two which 

 suggests that sooner or later they may have to be united. 



Dimorphomyces ramosus no\ . sp. 



Male indiridual pale somewhat dirty yellowish. Receptacle con- 

 sisting of three cells; the basal narrow and extending up obliquely 

 beside the base of the subbasal, forming an external prominence 

 which subtends the base of the lowest antheridium : basal septum of 

 the terminal cell transverse; the primary appendage uniformly 

 slender, straight, erect or divergent from the antheridia, its three 

 lower cells small and similar, the second and third distinguished above 

 and below by black septa, the terminal one as long or longer than the 

 rest of the appendage. Antheridia two or three, the upper two 

 arising directly from the terminal cell, without septation, when three 

 are present; sessile, rather stout, the necks well distinguished, strongly 



