I42 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 
nettle cluster-cup, . urtice, Z. grossularia, on the gooseberry 
2, leucospermum, on the wood anemone. Students, taking their 
summer holidays, should look out everywhere and they will almost 
for a certainty be rewarded for their trouble. 
Numerous Puccinizi now for the first time begin to show them- 
selves, but, for the most part, they live far away from Manchester, 
nevertheless they should be looked for, and new localities should be 
remembered, and information sent to the Editor of the NoRTHERN 
Microscopist. It is in this way valuable help may be given to 
microscopic students. About twelve years ago I met with a fungus 
in the Bollin Valley, near to Wilmslow, which was unknown in 
Britain. It was in the form of small spots of black smut on the 
under side of the leaves of the butterbur, Fefasttes vulgaris. I sent 
specimens to Dr. Cooke, who referred to it in his publication, 
“ Grevillea,” vol. i. p. 40, and named it Badhamia capsulifer. 
Long after that date, in vol. v. p. 12, he refers to the plant again, 
and names it Physarum tussilaginis. Every summer in June I 
have found this same fungus in various parts of Cheshire, near the 
various brooks and rivers, but never in any other part of England. 
I have endeavoured to find out through “Science Gossip” if any 
other person has found the fungus, but I have not yet heard of 
any one who has done so. It is one of the Myxogastres, and is of 
especial interest at the present time, when one of our scientists 
is claiming for this family a relationship with the animal kingdom. 
I would urge upon botanical students to be on the look out 
for this interesting fungus, for I have a strong opinion that it 
may be found in other parts of the country besides the Cheshire 
valleys. 
The cluster-cup on the garlic is rare, but very beautiful, and 
should be looked for carefully. I have found it but once, and that 
was in June, on the west shore of Windermere Lake.—Zhomas 
Brittain. 
P.S.—Since writing the above, it has occurred to me that Puc- 
cinia umbelliferarum may be met with in numerous localities near 
Manchester in June. It is very common on the pignut, “Bunium 
flexuosum,” but it may be found on various umbelliferee. I have 
met with it near Wilmslow, in Bramhall Park, and numerous other 
places.—Z: B. 
BorttERILL’s ZOOPHYTE TROUGH consists of two brass or ebonite 
plates bolted together, as shown in fig. 21, the plates of glass being 
separated, according to the thickness required, by an ordinary india- 
rubber ring of the requisite thickness. The trough can thus be 
taken apart and the glasses cleaned, or a broken front replaced 
without the trouble of cementing, the glass sides being sufficiently 
thin to allow the use of high power objectives. 
