124 Bibliographical Notices. 



Algse. Dulz, in his third memoir, mentions four modes of reproduc- 

 tion which he has obsen-ed in the Ceramia. Messrs. Crouan have 

 traced the vegetation of the sphserospores before their separation into 

 four distinct bodies, Avhile Agardh has observed the germination of 

 the spores of Avhich the sphserospore are composed, and also that of 

 the spores contained in the capsules. And in the zoospermic Algse, 

 both the zoosperms and spores produce perfect plants. The proba- 

 bility is that all are in the main correct, and that their views are not 

 irreconcilable, however different they may appear at first ; and truth 

 will appear at length, not by the questioning of the observations of 

 others, but by the patient and unprejudiced comparison of all. 



Much remains to be done as regards the arrangement of Algae, and 

 it is very much to be desired that Dr. Montague, who has perhaps 

 in his hands the largest mass of original matter of any algologist, and 

 that in great measure ready for publication, would devote his atten- 

 tion to the subject generally, to which he would, we doubt not, do as 

 much justice as he has done in his notices of individual genera or 

 tribes. The ample materials he possesses, his admirable tact in mi- 

 croscopic researches, his accurate pencil, his intimate acquaintance 

 with all that has been published in various languages, and above all 

 his unwearied diligence, his accurate judgement and his very lumi- 

 nous style of writing, are all guarantees of his especial fitness to 

 undertake a complete revision of the subject, wdiich could not fail to 

 promote exceedingly this branch of botany. 



It is now proved incontestably that the calciferous Polypiers of La- 

 mouroux belong to the order of Algae, The memoirs of Kutzing and 

 Decaisne are decisive on the subject, and the observations made by 

 Chauvin, which are very judicious and interesting, would tend to 

 confirm their views, if they needed confirmation. We recommend the 

 work of the learned Professor, who has been long known to science 

 by his labours in this beautiful tribe of plants, as one which cannot 

 fail both to instruct and interest. 



As regards the analogies of Podaxinece, M. Montague remarks, that 

 Spumaria reminds us of Gyrophragmium ; that JEthalium is of a cel- 

 luloso-spongy substance, as Secotium; and finally, that there is a colu- 

 mella in Stemonitis and many other genera. 



The memoir closes with the following considerations : — From the 

 researches of Mr. Berkeley it appears that a multitude of subter- 

 raneous fungi {Fxingi hypogxi), which, after a deceptive analogy, had 

 been improperly referred to TuberacecB, belong beyond all doubt to 

 LycoperdacecE, and that these, at least as regards their mode of fruc- 

 tification, are much nearer to the Hyme?iomycetes ; while the Tuberacece, 

 regarded from the same point of view, bear more resemblance to the 

 Discomycetes of Fries, or to the Hymenothecia of Persoon, since the 

 reproductive bodies being contained in asci are real sporidia. The 

 recent labours of Tulasne and "\^ittadini have confirmed these obser- 

 vations, which may now be regarded as established in science. 



If now we would follow in thought the succession of different 

 forms by which, in their ascending series, the fungi of the two fa- 

 milies to which the names of Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes 



