ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 99 



double the size, and break up into two or three daughter-cells, each of 

 which is an oogonium capable of impregnation. When not impregnated, 

 the oogonium puts out prolifications which develope into ordinary 

 vegetative hyphee. 



Chytridiacea parasitic on Diatoms.* — Under the name Ectrogella 

 Bacillariacearum Herr W. Zopf describes a parasite which attacks species 

 of Synedra and Pinnularia. Its effect is first manifested by an alteration 

 in the shape and position of the chlorophyll-bands. They recede from 

 the walls, contract in direction of their length, and become closely applied 

 to the parasites. At the same time the nucleus is dissolved and the 

 protoplasm contracts. Later on, in consequence of the pressure exercised 

 by the parasites, the valves fall asunder. The sporangial fructification 

 of Ectrogella determines its place among the Ancylistese ; it bears the 

 same relation to Ancylistes as Olpidiopsis to Myzocytium. 



Cohn's ' Cryptogamic Flora of Silesia.'f — The last contribution to 

 'Herr J. Schroeter's monograph of Silesian fungi in Cohn's ' Cryptogamic 

 Flora of Silesia' is devoted to the orders Protomycetes, Ustiiagineaa, 

 Uredinei, and Auriculariei. A full account is given of the life-bistory of 

 fungi belonging to these orders. Protomycetes include the two genera 

 Protomyces and Endogone. The Ustilagineaa are divided into three 

 families, viz. : — Ustilaginacei ( Ustilago, Sphacelotheca, Schizonclla, and 

 Tolyposporiuni) ; Tilletiacei ( Tilletia, Urocystis, Entyloma, Melanotsenium, 

 Tuburcinia, Doassansia) ; and Thecaphorei (Schrceteria, Thecaphora, 

 Sorosporium), with several doubtful genera. The Uredinei comprise five 

 families, viz. : — Pucciniei (Uromyces, Puccinia) ; Phragmidiei (Trachy- 

 spora, Triphragmium, Pliragmklium) ; Endophyllei (Endophyllum) ; Gym- 

 nosporangiei (Gymnospoi-angium) ; and Melampsorei (Melampsora, Me- 

 lampsorella, Calyptospora, Coleosporium, Chrysomyxa, and Cronartium. 

 The Auriculariei comprise the single family Auriculariacei (Stypinella 

 n. gen. and Platygloea n. gen.). The following new species are described : — 

 Ustilago major, Uromyces alpinus, U. minor, Puccinia Cirsii lanceolati, 

 P. Crepidis, P. tenuistipes, Platygloea fimicola, and P. effusa. 



Protophyta. 



Microchsete.J — Under the name M. striatula l'Abbe Hy describes a 

 new species of this genus, found among Sphagnum in turf-bogs. It 

 forms an interesting link of connection between the older species on 

 which M. Thuret founded the genus, and the more recently discovered 

 31. diplosiphon Gom. M. Hy agrees with Bornet in regarding Micro- 

 chsete as belonging to the Scytonemaccae, of which it constitutes the most 

 simple type without any appearance of branching. 



Vibrio from Nasal Mucus.§ — Dr. E. Weibel finds that there occurs in 

 the mucosa of the posterior nares a vibrio, the presence of which is not 

 apparently associated with a pathological condition. The bacillus is 

 curved, and about as thick as that of anthrax, the length varying from 

 2-5 times the thickness. The degree of curvature is very variable, there 



* Zopf, W., ' Zur Kenntniss der Phycomyceten.' See Mr. G. Karop in Journ. 

 Quek. Mici. Club, iii. (1887) p. 115 (1 pi.). 



f Schroeter, J., in Cohn's Krvptogamen Flora v. Schlesien, Bd. iii. Lief. 3, 

 Breslau, 1887. See Hedwigia, xxvi. (1887) p. 173. 



X Morot's Journ. de Bot. i. (1887) pp. 193-8 (3 figs.). 



§ Centralbl. f. Bacteriol. u. Parasitenk.. ii. (18S7) pp. 465-9 (t figs, of a pi.). 



H 2 



