ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICHOSCOI'Y, ETC. 81 



Cystidia of Coprinus comatus.*— F. de la Mare Norris has examined 

 the cystidia of the gills in a species of Coprinus, in which they had not 

 been properly described. He finds that they project beyond the basidia 

 as they do in G. atramentarius, and prevent opposite gills from touching 

 each other, thus securing free room for the spores to drop out. He found 

 also that the cystidia from opposite gills fused at the tips when they came 

 into contact with each other, and that so thoroughly that they could 

 more easily be torn out by the roots than separated. In some cases the 

 fusing cystidia are opposite each other, in others they are some little 

 distance apart, but bend round so as to meet. 



Fungus parasitic on an Animal. f — C. Apstein has described a Phyco- 

 mycetous fungus growing on Synchseta monopi/s, as a new genus and 

 species, Synchsetophagus balticus. The globose zoospores of the fungus 

 attach themselves to the head of the Synchseta and penetrate into the 

 inner tissues. Several swarm-spores may attack one animal ; when the 

 interior is full of mycelium the formation of the fructification begins. 

 Sexual reproduction was not observed. 



Study of Pigments in Fungi. J — C. W. Naumann took as the 

 material for his research Epkoccmn purpurascens, a minute Hypho- 

 mycetous fungus that lives on dead or decaying plant material, on which 

 it forms purple spots. The fungus was grown in different culture 

 media, and the effects of the nutritive salts, etc. — temperature, light, gas, 

 and bacteria — on the formation of the pigment, are fully described. 

 In a summary at the end of the paper the author states some of the 

 main results : — 1. For colour-formation the presence of magnesium in 

 a definite concentration is necessary. 2. The presence of certain carbo- 

 hydrates furthers pigment-formation when associated with inorganic 

 nitrogen food, such as nitrates, but not ammonium nitrate. The forma- 

 tion of diastase was proved. 3. Nitrogen food had great influence ; 

 nitrates were the most favourable. 4. Colours of a weaker tint were 

 formed with other nitrogenous compounds. 5. Acidity of the culture 

 solution hinders pigment-formation ; alkalinity furthers it. 6. Pigment- 

 formation, as well as growth, is associated with osmotic pressure. The 

 colour substance is formed independently of light. In an atmosphere 

 of COo growth and pigment-formation were hindered ; the fungus grew 

 and colour was formed in hydrogen and nitrogen without any admixture 

 of oxygen. Certain bacteria further colour-formation. 



Finally, it was impossible to determine the chemical nature of the 

 pigment. 



Fungus-flora of the Eastern Weser hill-country with Ecological 

 Notes.§ — Heinrich Eddelbiittel undertook to collect and determine the 

 fungi of this region in order to complete the Cryptogamic flora of the 

 district. The list given includes the Basidiomycetes with the Pezizinese. 

 Where descriptions were found to be imperfect new diagnoses have been 



* Proc. Bristol Nat. Soc. iii. (1911) pp. 28-9 (2 pis.). 



t Wiss. Meeresunters. Abt. Kiel, xii. (1910) pp. 168-6 (9 figa.). See also Ann. 

 Mycol. ix. (1911) pp. 633-4. J Hedwigia, li. (1911) pp. 135-75. 



§ Ann. Mycol., ix. (1911) pp. 447-529. 



Feb. 21st, 191'J a 



