153 Miscellaneous. 



All the carbon of the plant is derived from the sugar, its nitrogen 

 from the ammonia, and its mineral material from the phosphates. 

 There is consequently upon this point, of the assimilation of nitro- 

 gen and the phosphates, a complete analogy between the ferments, 

 the Mucedineee, and plants of complicated organization. 



If, in this experiment, any one of the principles in the solution be 

 suppressed, the vegetation is arrested. The mineral material is that 

 which w^ould appear least indispensable for plants of this nature ; yet 

 if the phosphates be omitted, no vegetation is possible, whatever be 

 the proportion of sugar and ammoniacal salts. The germination of 

 the spores scarcely commences by the influence of the phosphates, 

 which the spores themselves introduce in infinitely small quantities. 

 If the ammoniacal salt be suppressed, the plant undergoes no deve- 

 lopment ; there is only a very abortive commencement of germina- 

 tion in consequence of the presence of the albuminoid matter of the 

 spores themselves, although there may be an abundance of free 

 nitrogen in the surrounding air, or in solution in the liquid. The 

 same effect is produced by the omission of the sugar, whatever 

 proportions of carbonic acid there may be in the air or in the liquid. 

 In fact, as regards the origin of their carbon, the Mucedineoe differ 

 from the Phanerogamic plants. They do not decompose carbonic 

 acid and evolve oxygen ; but the absorption of oxygen and the evolu- 

 tion of carbonic acid are necessary and constant actions of their life. 



The preceding results give us clear notions as to the mode of 

 nutrition of the Mucedinese, upon vi^hich scarcely any observations 

 had been previously made. They show^ us a method by which we 

 may, without difficulty, enter upon the most delicate questions in 

 the life of these little plants, so as to prepare a certain way for the 

 investigation of the same problems in the higher plants. 



M. Boussingault stated, in connection with M. Pasteur's results, 

 that M. Bineau had found that the nitrates and ammonia disappeared 

 from rain water holding them in solution, under the influence of 

 Cryptogamic vegetation. Rain water is well known to contain 

 nitrates and ammoniacal salts, together with salts of potash, soda, 

 and lime ; and M. Barral has recently ascertained the existence of 

 phosphates in rain-water. — Coniptes Rendus, Nov. 12, 1860, p. 709. 



Description of a new Species o/Pithecia (P. albicans). 

 By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S. &c. 



Hair very long and loose ; that of the head, neck, and upper part 

 of the thighs whitish ; that of the shoulders, back, sides, tail, and 

 fore legs black, with short white tips ; on the hind legs, sides of the 

 neck, inside of limbs, chest and belly, reddish. The hair of the 

 head very long, covering a great part of the face. 



Yoimg. — Hair of the head, neck, and shoulders very long (longer 

 than in the adult), blackish near the roots, and on the under side of 

 the body rather more rufous ; the moustaches more distinct. 



Hab. Brazil: Upper Amazon {Mj\ Bates). — Proc. Zool. Sac. 

 April 24, I860. 



