E. M. CHATEE — MICEOSCOPIC FtTNGI. 235 



The white portion is the mycelium or vegetative part, while the 

 little black dots are what are called conceptacles, that is to say, 

 they are collections of sporangia or spore cases, each of which 

 contains several spores. These conceptacles are furnished with 

 certain appendages which differ in different species. The con- 

 ceptacles of the maple blight are furnished with appendages the 

 tops of which are bifid and hook-shaped. The appendages of the 

 conceptacles of the gooseberry blight, and the hazel blight, and 

 those of the berberry, form very beautiful objects for the microscope. 

 The leaves of many other plants present similar appearances during 

 the autumn, owing to the presence of white mildews ; among the 

 most common are the plantain and the knot grass, but the appen- 

 dages in these cases are far less beautiful than in those previously 

 mentioned. 



The spores of several of the other parasitic fungi are sufficiently 

 interesting to be worth preserving as permanent microscopic 

 objects, and will keep for a long time if mounted in glycerine. 

 The various species of cluster cups may be mounted as dry objects, 

 but when so mounted do not keep well, and soon lose their bright 

 colour. 



In concluding this sketch I have to apologise for attempting to 

 deal with a subject with which I have so very limited and insuffi- 

 cient acquaintance, but I hope I may have induced some members 

 of our Society to give it more careful attention than I have done, 

 feeling sure it is one that will afford much interest and pleasure. 



