




Igor ] CURRENT LITERATURE 279 
sporophyll, and terminal ovule. In reference to the radial character of the 
primitive sporophyll the author accepts Celakovsky’s view, and also regards 
the peculiar ovuliferous stalks as foliar rather than axial structures.— 
D. H. Scorr® has described a new genus of lycopods, fideehie by 
name, which shows features indicated by the title of the is fr 
the Lower Coal Measures and also from a much lower oa pre alcifer- 
i h 
° 
B 
growth from the sporophyll, and completely encloses it except for a slit-like 
opening above. So much of the sporophyll persists as is necessary to com- 
plete this testa-like covering, and the whole seed-like structure falls off with 
its retained and germinated megaspore.—J. . 
Dr. E. O. JorDAN® has published recently a paper upon the bacterial 
ete of streams, the observations having been made during a 
study of the chemical and bacterial condition of the Illinois river and its 
tributaries, undertaken in behalf of the sanitary district of Chicago. The 
phase of self-purification considered is that which relates to the disappear- 
ance of the sewage bacteria. Although the conclusions are not to be regarded 
as final, a lessening of the bacterial content seems to admit of no question. 
In fact, the observations show that the Illinois river at Ottawa had become 
nearly free from the great mass of sewage bacteria with which it was originally 
laden. The probable factors in this result seem to have been dilution, sedi- 
mentation (leading to exhaustion of food supply), or action of sunlight. The 
influences of mechanical agitation and aeration, and of plankton, do not seem 
to be factors which enter into the problem in connection with the Illinois river. 
mares Lie. hy: 
JoHN WEINzIRL™ has recently published a paper upon “ The bacterial 
flora of the semi-desert region of New Mexico with especial reference to the 
bacteria of the air,” in which he records the result of a two-year study. 
Both quantitative and qualitative examinations were made. The quantitative 
data were obtained by the filter method, sand being used for the filtering 
substance. Five determinations made in the vicinity of the University of 
New Mexico gave an average of aboat forty-two bacteria per cubic meter of 
air. Eleven determinations in the residence district of Albuquerque yielded 
°On the occurrence me a seed-like fructification in certain paleozoic lycopods. 
Ann. Bot. 14 : 713-717. 
70 Some ee nage the Sages self-purification of streams. Jour. Exper. 
Medicine 5 : 271-314. p/. 20 
* Jour. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1g : 211-242. 1900. 
