1809.] Botamj and Vegetahle Plnjsiologtj. 269 



2. Zoospores have been discovered in tliree very different genera 

 of lichens, viz. Physcia, Cladoiiia, and Evernia ; and as these 

 genera were selected undesignedly, it is probable that zoospores 

 exist in all other hchens furnished with chlorophyll. 



3. The identity of free gonidia with unicellular algas (Cystococcus 

 of Niigeli) may be considered as demonstrated ; consequently this is 

 not a distmct genus, but only a phase of development of a lichen. 



4. The culture of the freed gonidia of Physcia, Cladonia, and 

 Evernia led us to expect that other lichens would afford forms 

 correspondmg with rudimentary algae. Our researches prove this 

 to be well founded. Vertical sections of the thalli of Peltigera and 

 Collema, cultivated on moist earth, showed the filaments in dis- 

 integration, the augmentation in size of the gonidia, and their 

 transformation into giomerules composed of spherical cellules. The 

 gonimic cellules of Peltigera and Collema continued to live when 

 separated from the thallus ; those of Peltigera were identical with 

 an alga called Polycoccus ; those of Collema produced organisms 

 similar to Nostoe. Consequently these three genera of algae, hitherto 

 regarded as distinct, are m reality only the gonidia of lichens in a 

 state of development when separated from the thalli which produced 

 them. 



New Lichens. — The Eev. J. Grombie describes in the ' Journail of 

 Botany ' a number of new lichens from tlie well-searched neighbour- 

 hoods of the New Forest and Scotch moors. What he has been able 

 to do is an encouragement to others to pursue the very fascinatinc 

 study of these little plants ; taking the student over mountain rocks, 

 among old ruined towers, or under vast and aged tree stems — with 

 a geological hammer and a strong knife in his hand, and no need of 

 great tin-boxes and blotting-paper. 



Deaths. — Carl von Martins, the great botanist and traveller 

 died at Munich, in December last, aged 74. Adalbert Schnitzlein, 

 Professor of Botany at Erlangen, died in October, from the result 

 of an accident whilst botanizing in the Tyrol. 



The late Professor Harvey. — Those who would like to read 

 the history of a good, well-loved, and great botanist should see the 

 recently-published memoir of the late Professor of Botany in 

 Trinity College, Dublin. 



The Chair of Botany at Trinity College, Dublin. — We are 

 glad to find that the fears of Dr. Wright's friends as to the 

 election to the late vacancy in Dublin have not been fulfilled. 

 Trinity College has not followed the nomination of the Science and 

 Art Department, and Professor Wyville Thomson, though aiDi^ointed 

 lecturer in the Government College of Science, has not obtained 

 the University chair, to which Dr. Edward Perceval Wright has 

 been elected. 



