848 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



only one point of the periphery ; througliout the rest of its circum- 

 ference it formed one substance with the stem. 



The normal hymenial lamellae were entirely suppressed, while the 

 hyphse of the pileus bore the lamellae united into a compact mass 

 by their free margins and by several points of their parallel faces ; 

 thus leaving between them free spaces, few in number, in which the 

 terminations of the hyphte were crowned by perfectly normal spores. 

 The cavities being closed-in, dissemination of the spores was absolutely 

 impossible. 



The second instance was Polyporus betuUnus. Composed of two 

 parts dissimilar in appearance and specifically distinct, although juxta- 

 posed on the same plane and united at their margins, the monstrosity 

 is formed by a single pileus whose substance has been constricted at 

 one point. Whilst the second part is perfectly normal, the first 

 presents a singular teratological alteration. Both the surfaces are 

 covered with spores. On the upper surface the tubes are long and 

 inclined, with denticulated and torn edges. On the lower surface, 

 they are vertical and short ; both bear normal spores. The former 

 disposition of the tubes evidently has for its object a more efficacious 

 protection of the spores which are more exposed to exterior agencies. 

 This monstrosity is of double interest : first, it testifies to the experi- 

 mental value of researches into the abnormal formation of spores ; 

 second, it shows that fungi, even of the higher orders, are endowed 

 with great plasticity of form, receiving promptly the impression of 

 the plexus of surrounding forces. 



Some Remarkable Moulds.* — Dr. M. C. Cooke gives full de- 

 scriptions of some remarkable moulds, brief diagnoses of which have 

 been previously published,! viz. : — Basidiella sphserocarpa Cooke ; 

 Sterigmatocystis ferruginea Cooke, and Aspergillus nigricans Cooke. 

 He also describes Polyactis deprsedans Cooke MS., that grows on 

 the leaves of Acer pseudo-platanus, and Polyactis truncata Cooke,| 

 likewise previously described. 



Pneumonomycosis of Birds.§ — Hearing that near Berlin many 

 geese were dying of a disease the duration of which was short and 

 the cause unknown. Dr. Schiitz requested the owner of the birds to 

 send a body for examination. This disclosed a pneumonomycosis. 

 Its specific nature was determined by breeding at temperature of 30° C. 

 on bread-paste. The usual precautions were taken, and in 24 hours 

 a layer of Aspergillus fumigatus was formed. In the subsequent 

 inoculation process it had to be borne in mind that at the post-mortem 

 examination the crop was found to be in direct communication with a 

 cavity in the right lung, hence the original infection focus could only 

 be determined by experiment. The fungi were bred in agar-agar and 

 in bread-paste at a temperature of 30°. The usual sterilizing pre- 

 cautions were taken, and in four days a luxuriant fungous growth 



* Journ. Quekett Micr. Club, ii. (1885) pp. 138-43 (2 pis.)- 



t Grevillea, vi. pp. 118 and 127, viii. p. 95. 



% Bommer's ' Champignons de Bruxelles,' p. 137. 



§ MT. Eeichsgesundheitsamte, ii. (1884; p. 208. 



