INVERTEBRATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 833 



3. The inner tissue does not originally exhibit any differentiation 

 into spore-forming layer and columella. A few cells, undefined both 

 in position and number, which varies from one to seven, become the 

 mother-cells of the spores, in each of which four spores are formed 

 tetrahedrally. 



4. The cells of the spore-space which remain sterile, as well as 

 those of the inner layer of the spore-sac, and of the two inner layers 

 of the wall of the capsule, are subsequently again absorbed, while the 

 outer layer of the spore-sac remains, almost until the spores are ripe, 

 in the upper part, but altered so as to be hardly recognizable, and 

 appearing as a homogeneous membrane. 



5. In respect to the processes which are carried on in the spore- 

 space — the differentiation into spore-mother-cells, which are irregularly 

 interspersed, and cells which remain sterile — Archidiuni resembles 

 the Hepaticfe more closely than the Bryinete. The resemblance is 

 especially close to the Riellea), with which it agrees also in the 

 structure of the calyptra. 



Transition of Female to Male Organ in a Moss.* — This pheno- 

 menon, probably never before observed in cryptogams, is recorded 

 by Lindberg in Hyimum eri/throrhizon. A barren female plant 

 showed some altogether abnormal perichaetia ; these proved to consist 

 on one side of forms resembling the ordinary female organs, on the 

 other, of organs approximating to the structure of antheridia. These 

 latter were almost cylindrical from the base upwards, instead of 

 having the pear-shaped form of the archegonium : their interior was 

 found to contain a substance resembling dried spermatozooids ; no 

 female central cell could be distinguished among them. The upper 

 edge, however, is circular, and presents a level plane with a central 

 invagination, as in normal antheridia. The same j)lant bore regular 

 and typical archegonia of a narrow flask-like shape with a long neck ; 

 the upper end has a projecting rim with more or less distinct lijjs ; 

 the central cells are also present, as usual. The discovery of the 

 hermaphrodite species, H. reflexum, described by Blytt, bears out the 

 correctness of the present observation ; it is possibly merely a 

 similar specimen of H. erylTirorhizon, wrongly identified. 



Fungi. 



New Genera of Fungi. t — Sig. Saccnrdohas compiled a conspectus 

 of the fungi found in Italy, belonging to the class known as " Fungi 

 impcrfecti," and regarded by tlie majority of mycologists as early 

 forms of the Ascomycotos and other higher fungi. 



He classifies them iirst under three divisions, the Spl.asroi)sidcte, 

 ^relanconicfc, and Hyplidinycetca?. The Sphfcropsidea; are further 

 divided into throe sections, the Sphrcroidc .t, Dimid'ato-scjitatai, and 

 Subcnpulat«3. Within each section the form and colour of the spores 

 are the characters used for further classification. In the Mclanco- 



• 'Oefv. K. Vet. Akad. F.irli.' (8torklif.lin) 1870, Xo. .",. p. 7") (1 \^n\o). 

 t ' Miclieliii,' 1880, p. 1. See ' IJot. (.'cntrnlM.,' i. (IH80) p. .'il.'i. 

 VOL. III. 3 I 



