242 THE HYPHOMYCETES 



Palhogenesis. Same as Mucor corymbifer, but is distinguished from 

 it by the pleasant fruity smell of the cultures. 



The mucors are the lowest members of the vegetable kingdom 

 exhibiting a method of reproduction which is universal in the higher 

 forms of plant life. Two cells are concerned in this process, known as 

 the male and female elements, and the process, which is called sexual 

 reproduction, only takes place by this method when growing on a solid 

 substratum. When there is a plentiful supply of nourishment at hand 

 reproduction takes place asexually, that is, by spore formation. 



FUSISPORIUM MOSCHATUM (KITASATO). 



This fungus is described by Kitasato. It was found as an 

 accidental growth in a vegetable infusion. The principal charac- 

 teristics are the formation of sickle-shaped spores (see Photomicro- 

 graph, Fig. 95), and an odour of musk given off by the cultures. 



Biological Characters. It grows only at room temperature on all 

 the ordinary media, on rice paste, and infusion of peas. 



Gelatine Media are liquefied slowly ; the cultures at first are greyish- 

 white, eventually becoming rose or brick-red coloured. 



In preparing and mounting microscopic specimens of the various 

 fungi, illustrated by the accompanying photomicrographs, the author 

 adopted the following method : 



1. Hammer out a piece of platinum wire quite flat at the point, in 

 the shape of a shovel. 



2. Select an isolated growth, heat the shovel, and cut through the 

 medium a short distance from the growth. 



3. Push the platinum spade under the growth and transfer the mass 

 en bloc to a clean cover-glass. 



4. Place the cover-glass on a clean slide, heat gently over the flame 

 (just enough to melt the medium), and press the cover-glass gently to 

 remove superfluous medium. 



By this process the fungus is mounted on the medium it is growing 

 in, and the character of the growth is readily observed. In making 

 permanent mounts by this method, a drop of a solution of formalin is 

 added before the slide is heated. 



