ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 351 



points could reproduce the fruiting body, though any part of Xylaria 

 arhuscula was found to be capable of doing so. 



In a series of experiments on the continuance of the cells of 

 Aspergillus 7iiger, Kohler found that in nutritive solutions the cells lasted 

 four to five days, and that this time was in no way influenced by spore 

 production. He found also that cells on the surface of the culture had 

 a longer life, and concluded that external factors, such as want of 

 oxygen and accumulation of harmful growth-products, contributed to 

 the death of the cells. 



Fungi used in the Preparation of Batata Brandy.* — This form 

 of spirit is prepared in Japan, and K. Saito found that several filamentous 

 fungi entered into its preparation, along with a new yeast, Saccharomyces 

 Batata,. The most important factor in the fermentation process was 

 Aspergillus Batata sp. n., nearly allied to A. niger, but differing in the 

 size of the conidia and in the colour of the growing tufts. Two other 

 species were isolated and determined, A.pseudoflavus?>^.'a.,ajidi Rhizopus 

 chineiisis. Full descriptions of the new fungi are given, and they are 

 well illustrated. 



Handbook of Technical Mycology. f — Under the editorship of Franz 

 Lafar a number of parts of this great work have been issued. Fascicle 13 

 of vol. iii. includes the mycology of water, by H. Wichman, A. Reinsch, 

 and R. Kolkwitz ; and the mycology of dung, by J. Behren. In other 

 fascicles A. Klocker deals with the Saccharomycetes, their variabiUty and 

 classification ; and C. Wehmer \\Tites on the Aspergillaceae, a family in 

 which there is still much confusion owing to the want of knowledge of 

 development of the different forms. G. Lindau deals with the conidial 

 forms of Cladospori'um herharum and Dematium p)ullulans, and H. Wall 

 with the Torulaceffi. The mycology of brewing, etc,, is treated by 

 Lindner, Wichman, Wehmer, and others. 



Cryptogamic Botany.| — J. P. Lotsy has just published a series of 

 lectures to students on the above subject, which are mainly concerned 

 with Algffi and Fungi. In his treatment of the Fungi he lays stress on 

 the passing over from water to land hfe. He describes the morphology 

 and cytology of the various groups and genera, beginning with the 

 Monolpidiacese and going through all the water forms first. The 

 Schizophytae are next dealt with, then the Myxobacteria, the Myxo- 

 mycetes, and, finally, the Eumycetes, which include the two great groups 

 of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. The lichens are taken up under 

 the Ascomycetes. There is a copious bibliography, and a good index to 

 the volume. 



Anon.— Fungi Exotici V. Eeio Bulletin, 1906) pp. 255-58. 



Benecke, \V. — Kleine Mitheilungen iiber oxalsaurebildung in Pflanzen. (Short 

 contributions on the formation of oxalic acid in plants.) 



[Benecke criticises Wehmer's work on this subject, and adds notes on the 

 growth of Aspergillus niger in various culture solutions.] 



Bot. Zeit., Ixv. (1907) pp. 73-81. 



BuBAK, Pe., & Kabat, J. E. — Mykologische Beitrage. (Mycological contribu- 

 tions.) Hedwigia, xlvi, (1907) p. 288. 



* Centralbl. Bakt., xviii. (1907) pp. 30-7 (2 pis.) 



t Jena : G. Fischer. See also Bot. Zeit., Ixv. (1907) pp. 61-2. 



X Jena : G. Fischer (1907) 823 pp. 430 figs. 



