288 ALGOLOGICAL NOTES. 



of the glass jar. The structure and appearance of these discs was such 

 as to practically leave no doubt that they were early stages in the 

 growth of Ahnfeltia iMcata, and not of a parasite. As a result of this 

 experiment, I am strongly of opinion that Prof. Fr. Schmitz's genus 

 Sterrocolax will have to be sunk, and in this view I am supported by 

 Mr. Batters. Unfortunately, owing to the difficulties of cultivation, I 

 did not succeed in getting the culture beyond the disc stage. As the 

 Koyal Society has generously renewed the grant by the aid of which 

 these investigations are being carried on, I hope to repeat the culture, 

 with more success, when the season comes round again. 



As part of my investigation, I am studying the attaching discs of the 

 red sea-weeds, or Florideas, in order to ascertain to what extent the 

 conditions found in Dumontia Jiliformis, Grev., prevail in other species. 

 So far I have found no other alga which shows a mode of development, 

 from an attaching disc, similar to that described for D. filiforinis. Cf. 

 " On the Development of the Filamentous Thallus of Dumontia Filifor- 

 inis" Journal of the Linnean Society — Botany, vol. xxx. A large 

 number of red sea-weeds {e.g. Gigartina, Polyides, Stennogramme, 

 Phyllophora, Ahnfeltia) are connected with their attaching discs by 

 a simple parenchyma-like tissue ; one or two forms present different 

 and interesting features in the development of the vertical frond from 

 the attaching base, and when their structure is more fully worked 

 out will, in due course, be described and published, but these conditions 

 in no wise resemble what was found to be the case in D. filiformis. 



The germination of the spores of Glwosiphonia capillaris has yielded 

 interesting results with regard to the mode of formation of the attach- 

 ing disc. On germinating, the spore sends out a few-celled filament, 

 which by the radiate branching of one or two of the cells forms a well- 

 marked disc. 



My friend Mr. Edw. Batters has continued to give me his invaluable 

 aid in the identification of species, &c. Two or three of the above finds 

 are entirely due to him {e.g. Peyssonelia rupestris, Cm., Lithothavinion 

 Stromfeliii, Foslie), he having recognised them in material forwarded 

 from the Laboratory. 



The new species and forms will be described by Mr, Batters in the 

 forthcoming number of the Journal of Botany {i.e. in September). 



