230 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



tures were made, but without the subsequent appearance of zygospores. 

 The species, if indeed it is a distinct species, differs from P. nitens only 

 iu the smaller size throughout. It is possible that this is but the less 

 luxuriant sexual strain to which the germination of the zygospore had 

 given rise. 



Phycomyces Pirottianus Moriui. 



This species was found by Moriui ('96) on horse dung in Sicily. The 

 zygospores were rarely obtained, and form only on the surface of the 

 substratum. The progametes are derived from branches which develop 

 each from a separate mycelial hypha. 



Spinellus fusiger (Link) van Tieghem. 



The brothers Tulasue ('66) were the first to report the zygospores of 

 this species, having found them on CoUybia fusipes. 



Van Tieghem ('75), who also observed them, was able to grow the 

 species only on certain agarics. " The two arched branches which form 

 the zygospores," he says, "come sometimes from the same branch.'' 



Bainier ('82) found the zygospores on the gills of CoUybia fusipes, 

 and in the laboratory was able to obtain them from cultures on the same 

 host. The zygophores are said to arise sometimes from the same hypha, 

 and the figures distinctly show this condition. 



This species appears to be not rare in Europe, and zygospores have 

 been found in connection with the sporangia by all except the earlier 

 investigators of the group. It is not necessary to cite the entire litera- 

 ture on the subject. Writers agree in the constant occurrence of zygo- 

 spores with the sporangia, and their descriptions and figures point to a 

 homothallic condition. It is of interest to note that the related species 

 Spinellus macrocarpus, which in this country has been found by Dr. 

 F'arlow on Mycena Sp. in Vermont, and by Professor Thaxter on the 

 same host at Kittery Point, Maine, has been kept running for some time 

 in the laboratory, and has never been observed to produce zygospores. 

 The form may well be heterothallic, although the hybridization test has 

 not been applied. 



In this country S. fusiger has been reported but twice, — Hark, and 

 Moore, Cat. Pac. Fung. 31 : 1880, and M. A. Curtis, Bot. N. Car. 

 153: 1867 (collected by Ravenel). Dr. Farlovv has in his herbarium 

 the fungus collected by H. S. Plorseford from Charlotte, Vermont, 188(5, 

 and collected by himself from the following localities: Shelburne, 

 N. II., September, '97 ; Campobello, N. B., September, '98 ; Campo- 



