162 PROGRESS OF MIOROSCOPICAL SCIENCE.  [Yonthis Mico. 
the cells, until it develops the brownish-coloured bodies known as 
spores (perhaps incorrectly), and it is by the peculiar characters of 
these that species have been distinguished; although there seems two 
good reasons for supposing that these plants are not only dimorphous, 
as has been stated, but polymorphous, assuming different forms 
according to the habitat in which they are found. In reply to the 
question as to whether it was true, as was stated by farmers, that 
Barberry bushes infested with fungus, or mildew, conveyed that 
mildew to fields of wheat adjoining, which then showed the presence 
of “brand,” Prof. Edwards remarked that such might very likely be 
the case, as very little certain is known respecting the life history of 
these minute plants, and he was now carrying on some experiments, 
by infesting different plants with fungi taken from others, so as to 
see if the host which they inhabited modified their characters mate- 
rially. He described, and illustrated by means of diagrams, the 
characteristics of the Wheat Brand, Puccinia graminis, and other 
fungi, and expressed a hope that botanical readers would contribute 
specimens of such plants as they found to be infested by mildews, 
brands, and smuts for the Society’s collection. 
Position of the Brachiopoda in the Animal Kingdom.—For some time 
past Mr. Edward S. Morse has had reasons for believing that the 
Brachiopods with the Polyzoa, had greater affinities with the worms 
than with the mollusks. He has studied attentively Terebratulina and 
Discina as well as their early stages, and in all points of their struc- 
ture interprets articulated characters, and not molluscan characters. 
Without entering into particulars at this time, he would state that in 
the structure of the shell he finds the greatest resemblance to the 
shell of crustacea, both as regards the peculiar tubular structure, and 
the scale-like appearance, and its chemical composition. In Lingula, 
while the carbonate of lime amounts to only six per cent., the phos- 
phate of lime amounts to forty-two per cent. The horny sete which 
fringe the mantle are remarkably worm-like. In worms the bristles 
are enclosed in muscular sheaths, while in other articulate animals 
the hairs are simply tubular prolongations of the epidermal layer. In 
the Brachiopods these bristles are secreted by follicles and are sur- 
rounded by muscular fibres, and are freely moved by the animal. The 
structure of these set differs but little, if at all, from those of the 
worms. The lophophore with the cirri is to be compared to similar 
parts in the tubicolous worms, and the mantle which covers and con- 
ceals their arms is to be compared to the cephalic collar, as seen in 
Sabella, for instance, where we find it split laterally, and a portion 
reflected. If this were greatly developed so as to cover the expanded 
fronds of cirri, we should recognize quickly the relation between the 
two. Dr. Gratiolet has compared the circulatory system of the Bra- 
chiopods to that of the crustacea, and Burmeister has shown a resem- 
blance between the respiratory apparatus of certain cirripeds and that 
of Lingula. In the reproductive system there is a close similarity 
existing between the oviducts of Brachiopoda, with their trumpet- 
shaped openings, and similar organs in the worms. In the little 
knowledge we have of their embryology, the strongest proofs exist of 
