368 Miscellanies. 



a new tuft. Although the characters of the genus Torula Pers. 

 (to which, because of a want of distinctive characters, I would unite 

 the Hormiscium of Kuntze) do not exactly apply to our Mucedinea, 

 yet I hardly consider it advisable to form a new genus, and I would 

 therefore name it, as it appears to be an undescribed species, TorttZa 

 dissiliens. 



After its first appearance on a leaf it rapidly extends itself, the leaf 

 becomes crisped and variously contorted, changing to a black color as 

 the fungus increases, and in a few days becomes completely dry, 

 and falls in a powder. Some fields have thus been entirely depri- 

 ved of their leaves, and notwithstanding the beauty of the season, 

 the grapes deprived of the effects of tbe reflection of the solar rays 

 and the circulation of the sap, have not attained the degree of per- 

 fection that was to be expected. The vineyards along the lakes 

 were first attacked, but by degrees the disease has reached the dis- 

 tant heights. I have frequently met with this Mucedinea about 

 Geneva, and have received specimens from Coppet, Nyott and 

 Morges. 



Its description in technical language is as follows : 

 Torula dissiliens, cespitulis fusco-virescentibus, demum confluen- 

 tibus et hyphasma intertextum late expansum constituentibus, fila- 

 mentis erectis strictis simplicibus aut parce ramosis pellucidis articu- 

 latis, articulis 1-9 subaequalibus cylindricis distincte 1-6 septalis 

 utrinque obtusis humiditate secedentibus. 



15. On Mercaptan, by M. Zeise. (Annales de Chimie, T. 56, 

 p. 87.) — When the Sulphovinate of potassa, baryta or hme, is heat- 

 ed in a distilling apparatus, with a concentrated solution of protosul- 

 phuret, deutosulphuret or hydrosulphuret of Barium, the sulphovi- 

 nate is changed into a sulphate, and there is formed an ethereal li- 

 quid, which is condensed with a little water in the recipient, with- 

 out the disengagement of sulphuretted hydrogen. This liquid, pu- 

 rified and deprived of its water by means of chlorid of calcium, is 

 lighter than water, colorless, of an odor excessively penetrating, 

 somewhat resembhng assafoetida or garhc, and has an extremely 

 strong taste. It takes fire readily, and gives off when burning the 

 odor of sulphurous acid. Distilled with care there are obtained two 

 substances, the least volatile of which is Thialic ether, and the other 

 Mercaptan. ' 



