15 



New Hepatic ae.— The following new species of North American 

 Hepaticae are described by C. F. A. Austin in the Bulletin of the 

 Torrey Botanical Club, for March, 1872: — Sarcoscyphus Bolancleri, 

 Sarcoscyphus BceckiijScapania Oakesii, Junqermannia crenuliformis, 

 Jungermannia Wattiana^ Jungermannia Sullivantia>, Jungermannia 

 Gillmani, S.phagnoecetis 3facounii, Madotlieca Bolanderi, Madotheca 

 Sullivantii, Lejennia Sullivantice, Frullania Wrightii, Frullania 

 Sullivantia?, Frullania pendula, and Fimbriaria violacea. We 

 regret to see that the "complimentary fever" is raging so strong 

 across the Atlantic ; here are eighteen new species, of which no 

 less than twelve have " complimentary" names, the same individual 

 heing four times immortalized. 



Dimorphic Diatoms.— Last October (1871) I collected in the 

 salt water at Helle Gat, North end of Norfolk Island, a Melosira, 

 which was in part M. nummuloides and part 31. Borrerii, as Smith 

 defines and figures. I have for some time expected that these two 

 forms were only one species. In September (1871) I collected in 

 a small stream on Union Hill, N. J., Gomphonema constrictum, 

 capitatum, acuminatum, and cristatum, all on the same stalk. Also 

 sporangia (?) of 3Ielosira varians, different from any I have ever 

 seen before, they are like little " dumbbells," consisting of two 

 globes united by a short isthmus. Hydrodictyon utriculatum is 

 very common around New York. — Arthur 31. Edwards, M.D., 

 Newark, N.J. 



Alphonse de Brebisson.-The death of this veteran cryptoga- 

 mist took place at Falaise on the 26th April last, at the advanced 

 age of 74 years. It is with regret that we shall be deprived of his 

 promised assistance, that we make this announcement. Another 

 of the contemporaries of Smith, Greville, and Walker Arnott has 

 finished his course. A large and valuable collection of some thou- 

 sands of slides of Diatomaceee, the accumulation of an active life, 

 is to be disposed of by his son, M. Rene de Brebisson. It is to be 

 hoped that some Microscopical Society, or public institution like 

 the British Museum, will secure the collection in its entirety. 



Dr. M. A. Curtis.— The death of the Rev. Dr. M. A. Curtis, of 

 Hillsborough, North Carolina, U.S., leaves a blank in the short 

 list of North American mycologists which we fear will not soon be 

 so efficiently filled up. 



Edible Fungi.— The following species are enumerated by C. H. 

 Peck for the State of New York: — Agaricus ca!sarius, Scop. ; Cor- 

 tinarius cinnamomeus, Fr. ; Cortinarius castcuieus, Fr. ; Lactarhis 

 deliciosus, Fr. ; Lactarhis subdulcis, Fr. ; Cantharelhis cibarhts, 

 Fr. ; Lycoperdon cadatum, Fr. ; Lycoperdon gigaitteum, Batsch. ; 

 Jlolvtus luteu8,JJmu..\ Boletus J/avidvs, Fr. ; Boletus collinitus, Fr. ; 

 Boletus subtomentosus, Linn. ; Boletus edulis, Bull. ; Hydnum inl- 

 and Helvetia Infula, Schorl*. 



