ZOOLOGY- AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 1V>5 



Lichens. 



(By A. LoBBAiN Smith.) 



Antarctic Lichens.* — 0. Y. Darbishire has recently published his 

 account of the Lichens brought back from the Antarctic by the Swedish 

 South Pole Expedition of 1901-3. There are 86 genera represented 

 with 'dUQ species from sub-antarctic America, 55 from Soutij Georgia, and 

 106 from the Antarctic. A large number of species are new to science, 

 and have been described and illustrated by photographs. Analyses are 

 made of the different lists of lichens recorded in previous papers both 

 from the Arctic and Antarctic, and valuable notes and deductions are 

 made on the ecology and distribution of these pioneer plants. 



North American Usneacese.f — R. Heber Howe has issued the first 

 part of his monograph of North American Usneacete. He explains his 

 method of classification, and the characters which he considers of family, 

 generic or specific importance. He follows mainly the thalline method. 

 He rejects acids as a determining character. A few preliminary notes 

 on distribution and habitat are given. 



Mycetozoa. 

 (By A. LoEEAiis: Smith.) 



New Mycetozoa 4 — G-. Lister describes three new species. The first 

 is placed in a new genus Leptoderma, distinguished from its near ally 

 Lamproderma by the thickened sporangium-wall, and the occasional 

 deposits of carbonate of lime. Repeated gatherings of the species in 

 widely distant localities have proved the autonomy of species and 

 genus. The second, Diderma arboreimi, was first collected in Ceylon, 

 then in Japan and in Scotland. The name refers to its habitat on living 

 trunks of trees. The last species, Diachreacerifera., is remarkable for the 

 presence of wax in the stalks. The species has been collected in Norway, 

 in Japan, and in the Jura Mountains. 



Schizophy ta. 

 Schizomycetes. 



Differentiation of Gram-negative Diplococci.§ — D. Yerderame, 

 working with a limited number of strains of Goiiococciis^ Meningococcus , 

 and Micrococcus ccifarr halls, has investigated the value of agglutination 

 and complement fixation methods for diagnostic purposes. The latter 

 method does not give results of sufficient precision to be of value, but 

 serves to distinguish Mi<rococcus cafarrhcdis from the other types. Ag- 

 glutination tests give more uniform and definite results, and afford a 

 means of diagnosis more reliable and easier of execution. 



* Wiss. Ergeb. Schwed. Sudpolar Exped., 1901-3 (Stockholm, 1912) 74 pp. 

 (3 pis.). 



t Miss. Bot. Gard., 23rd Rep. (1912) pp. 133-4G (1 pi.). 



i Journ. Bot., li. (1913) pp. 1-4 (1 pi.). 



§ Centralbl. Bakt., Ite Abt. Orig., Ixviii. (1912) pp. 307-19. 



