440 Miscellaneous, 



value, it seems to me impossible to unite in one division having this 

 degree of importance the Monkeys and the Lemuroidea. The exis- 

 tence of a hand may occur in animals derived from very different 

 types ; we have long known examples of it among the Marsupials, 

 whilst among the Monkeys we find, side by side with clearly penta- 

 dactyle species, others of which the anterior limbs are destitute of a 

 thumb. We therefore cannot regard this organic peculiarity as 

 constituting a dominant character ; and the numerous and essential 

 differences that I have indicated in the course of this memoir seem 

 to me to have a far higher zoological value, and to call for a pro- 

 found distinction between the Monkeys and the Lemuroidea. It is 

 upon the support of these facts that I propose to regard each of 

 these groups as forming a distinct order, the order of the Lemu- 

 roidea uniting the order of the Simia3 to the order of the Carnivora. 

 — Comptes Bendus, August 14, 1871, tome Lxxiii. pp. 422-42-1. 



On some Fungi helonging to the Family Laboulbeniae. 

 By Dr. Peykitsch. 



The Laboulbeniae include Stigmatomyces muscce of Karsten, the 

 genus Arthrorliynolius, referred by Kolenati and Diesing to the 

 KfiygodecB in the system of parasitic worms, and the structures 

 occurring on Nehrice, which were regarded by Mayr as morbid 

 growths of the chitinous membrane. 



The author observed the development of Lahoulbenia muscce, 

 which lives parasitically upon the common houseflj\ The Lahoid- 

 henice, made their appearance epidemically upon the flies in the 

 summer and autumn, showing themselves in the males particu- 

 larly upon the limbs, in the females chiefly upon the head and 

 trunk. The fungus developes no mycelium growing upon the sur- 

 face or in the tissues of the animal. The perithecium, which is fur- 

 nished with a long bicellular stalk, is produced from the bicellular 

 spore, together with a curved branch furnished with points, which 

 • is inserted at the apex of the superior cell. When the spore has 

 fixed itself by its pointed end, it ascends, the product of the lower 

 cell of the spore becomes the stalk and perithecium, and that of the 

 upper cell of the spore becomes the branch (with the exception of 

 its basal cell, which is produced from a segment of the lower cell of 

 the spore). The I'udiment of the perithecium, which originally ap- 

 peared as a lateral excrescence, grows rapidly in length. When its 

 vertex does not yet appear to be equal in height with the terminal 

 branch, the latter has already attained its complete development 

 and definitive size, spherical cells make their appearance at the 

 points, whilst at the same time the protoplasmic contents protrude 

 from the cell at the vertex of the peritheci;im. The further deve- 

 lopment of the perithecium probably takes place in consequence of 

 the fertilizing influence of the round cells of the branch upon the 

 protruded fertilizable body ; and there is produced in the cavity of 

 the perithecium a tuft of tubes, in each of which eight spores are 

 developed. 



