INVERTEBBATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 841 



Alcoholic Fermentation.* — In regard to tlie transformation of 

 alcoholic liquids into vinegar, Pasteur, as is well known, holds that 

 the formation of vinegar is a physiological phenomenon caused by 

 vegetation of Mi/coderma aceti, while Liebig sees in it merely a chemical 

 action of oxygen on alcohol. Eecent observations by Herr Wm'm, at 

 the Breslau Institute of Plant-Physiology, are regarded as putting the 

 former view beyond a doubt, and Herr Wurm has succeeded in effecting 

 the industrial manufacture of vinegar in accordance with Pasteur's 

 view. The conditions are a sowing of pure bacteria, a uniform tempera- 

 ture of 30^ C, and a well-regulated addition of alcohol. The jirocess 

 goes on in large covered wooden receptacles (with side-holes for air), 

 into which are put 200 litres of a mixture of vinegar, water, and alcohol, 

 along with some mineral salts (phosphates of jiotash, lime, magnesia, 

 and ammonia). Full particulars have been published in Diugler's 

 ' Polytcchnischcs Journal.' The manufacture is said to be con- 

 siderably more rapid than that by the old method, and distinctly 

 economical. 



Clastoderma.t — A. Blytt describes a new genus and species of 

 Myxomycetcs. 



Sporangia discreta, calce destituta, stipitata. Columella brevis- 

 sima aut subnulla. Capillitium e columella ortum, ramis solidis, 

 lihicinis, demum lutescentibus, repetite bifurcatis, ramulis non auasto- 

 mosantibus. Sporaugii maturi membrana in fragmenta membranacea 

 subhyalina inter se libera et distantia divisa. Fragmenta irregulariter 

 rotuudata, oblonga aut subpolygona, ramulis ultimis capillitii singulis 

 vel 2-5 affixa. Sporfc lilacinaa, 



Clastoderma Debaryianum n. sp. Sporangia sphferoidea, diam. 

 ^-y mm. Stipes fusco-flavescens, ercctus, 1'3-1"4 mm. longus, 

 e basi latiori versus apicem sensim attenuatus (basi 210-215 /x, 

 apice ca. 8 fx latus), ad basin columella) anuulo membranaceo augus- 

 tissimo ciuctus. Columella subnulla, rotundata aut brevissima 

 (30 /m longa), apice dilatato rotundata. Sporje sphferoidea) Iseves, 

 diam. 9 5-1 1 /x. Fragmentorum membranaceorum diametrus 10-15 fx, 

 in fragmentis oblongis diametrus longior usque ad 30 fx longa. 



Ilab. in Polyporo emortuo, faciei inferiori gregarie insidens, in 

 silva abicgua propo Farucbo Christianise (Xorvegia;) mensc Septembri 

 1879 (A. lilytt). 



Lichenes. 



Monograph of Arthonia.t — A very valuable monograph of all 

 the Scandinavian species of Arihonia, referring also to species 

 found elsewhere, is compiled by S. Almquist. The diagnosis of tho 

 genus is nearly identical with that of Nylander and Leightou : — 

 Excipuhun nullum vel rarissimo ambiens ; epithecium ])cridium non 

 foriiians ; asci pyriformcs ; jiaraphyses iudistinctic ; reactio amyli 

 Bcmper distiucta, vulgo iutensa. 



• S.e ' EnRl. Mccli.,' xxxi. (1880) p. 492. 

 t ' bet. Zcit..' xxxviii. (1880) p. 343. 



X 'Koiirrl. Svenskii Vetenak-Akart.,' xvii. (18S0) p. 1. See ' Uut. Ceutralbl.,' 

 i. (is.lO) p. 355. 



