ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 467 



and ultimately even of a thallus. This thallus was then indistinguishable 

 from that of an ascosporous fungus, and developed new " spermogonia," 

 the " spermatia " from which germinated in the same way. It follows 

 that these organs are of the nature of conidia, and the author therefore 

 substitutes for the terms " spermogonia " and " spermatia," pycnidia and 

 pycnogonidia. 



Successful experiments in germination were made in fruticose, folia- 

 ceous, crustaceous, and gelatinous lichens. Details only are given of 

 those on crustaceous lichens, including the species Lecanora subfusca, 

 Thelotrema lepadinum, Pertusaria communis, JBueilia punctiformis, Lecidella 

 enteroleuca, Opegrapha subsiderella, Graphis scripta, Arthonia vulgaris, 

 Calicium parietinum, C. traclielinum, Verrucaria muralis. 



The author concludes by saying that all " spermatia " of lichens, 

 whether belonging to fruticose, foliaceous, or gelatinous forms, are 

 formed, like those here described, either on simple sterigmata or on 

 arthrosterigmata, within the chambers designated " spermogonia," and 

 there cannot be the slightest doubt about the perfect morphological 

 identity of all these organs. 



Fungi. 



Sterility of Fungi.* — Herr P. Magnus describes a number of instances 

 in which fungi have lost their power of producing spores, and have 

 developed also in a monstrous fashion, from the absence of light. The 

 same result follows from a deficient supply of nutriment. The author 

 adduces a remarkable case of the development in mushroom-culture in 

 Berlin, as the result of overmanuring, of bodies having a general external 

 resemblance to sclerotia, but resembling in structure the receptacles of 

 subterranean Gasteromycetes, in which the formation of the gleba has 

 been suppressed. 



Classification of the Agaricinese.f — M. N. Patouillard considers 

 that the small degree of constancy in the vegetative characters of the 

 Agaricinea) renders their classification difficult. The coloration of the 

 spores is a very important character, and the distribution of the genera 

 in series having sj>ores of the same colour is useful for study ; but this 

 arrangement is far from corresponding to their natural affinities. As in 

 all systems of classification where the essential character is not sufficiently 

 dominant, one finds in certain genera species, or even groups of species, 

 which have only one single character in common with others of the same 

 genus. This common character ought to be made of primary importance 

 in some cases, but of secondary value in others. 



The author then gives numerous examples. In comparing Lcpiota 

 with Coprinus, two genera which have many characters in common, the 

 former, however, having white spores and the latter belonging to the 

 Melanosporea?, it will be observed that in the genus Lcpiota there are 

 several species which, besides their own generic characters, have others 

 common to the two groups. This analogy has been long recognized, and 

 several of the Lcpiotse are designated as having a coprinoid fades. From 

 the instances quoted in the paper, the author states that it will be seen 

 that the character of the colour of the spores ought not to bo made the pivot 



* Versamml. Dcutsch. Naturf. u. Aerzte, Wiesbaden, Sept. 21, 1S87. See Bot. 

 Centralbl., xxxiii. (18S8) p. 62. 



t Herat's Journ. de But., ii. (1S8S) pp. 12-6. 



2 k 2 



