75 



Weissia truncicola=Dicranum montanum. — Observing that 

 you have re-printed my description of Weisaia truncicola De Not., 

 I beg now to correct the same by informing you that the species is 

 a nonentity. Having shown the specimen to Prof. Lindberg, 

 during his recent visit, he informed me that he was under the im- 

 pression that Juratzka had referred it to Dicranum montanum 

 Hedwig, and on comparing the two, I find that they are truly 

 identical. The species is, however, none the less an addition to 

 our Flora, and one that ought to occur here, since it is found 

 throughout Europe, though most frequent in pine forests; its 

 place will be next to D. strictum. — R. Braithwaite. 



New British Lichen, Lecidea fossarum. — Thallus tenuissi- 

 mus, obscurus vel evanescens, apothecia hete croceo-rufa, planuis- 

 cula, adpressa, immarginata mediocria, thecae polysporte. Sporaa 

 oblonga? vel oblongo-cylindricse . Description furnished in letter 

 from the Revd. W. A. Leighton, Shrewsbury, of date March, 

 4th, 1869. The above Lichen was gathered in a Cryptogamic 

 trip with Dr. James Stirton, Glasgow, in the month of July, 18G8, 

 on Ben Lawers, near the head of the ravine where the saxifages are 

 usually got. Unfortunately all the specimens gathered got quite 

 broken, except the one which was forwarded to Mr. Leighton, and 

 from which he sent the above description. — Walter Galt, Glasgow. 



Fungus Show at South Kensington. — Amongst the exhibits 

 were a beautiful specimen of Thelephora multizonata from Epping ; 

 a species of Hydnum new to Britain, several specimens of Sparassis 

 crispa — a peculiar form of Cantharellus allied to Cantltarelhs 

 cibarius from Reading, besides some other very interesting fungi. 

 Messrs. B. J. Austin of Reading, Lnglish of Epping, and W. G. 

 Smith exhibited good collections. 



Luminosity in Fungi. — A striking example is recorded by the 

 Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in " Gardeners' Chronicle" for Sept. 21. 

 A log of Spruce or Larch, 24 feet long, had the inside of its bark 

 covered with a white byssoid mycelium. This was so luminous 

 that when wrapped in five folds of paper the light penetrated 

 through all the folds on either side as brightly as if the specimen 

 was exposed. " Observers as we have been of Fungi in their 

 native haunts, for fifty years," adds the writer, " it has never fallen 

 to our lot to witness a similar case before." From the observa- 

 tions it seems probable that putrescence had as much to do with 

 the luminosity as the mycelium. "We regret that our space will 

 not permit us to reprint this communication or the remarks of Mr. 

 W. G. Smith in the succeeding number of the same journal. 



