ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETO. 493 



the Lard parts of the Coelenterata, Annelida, and Cirripedia, and 

 in the shells of the Acephalae, Brachiopoda, and Gasteropoda, the 

 mycelia of fungi have been detected ; while among Vermes, Ascaria 

 mystax alone is known as the host of 3Iucor helminthophthorus, which 

 closely resembles the M. melitophthorus foimd in the abdomen of bees. 

 Of fungi parasitic on insects there are a large number ; those which 

 attack silkworms having been especially a subject of investigation. 

 Of these there are three : (1) the " pebrine " or " gattine," caused by 

 a bacterium, Nosema hombycis, which may be derived from the external 

 air, from the food, or through the eggs ; the best means for prevent- 

 ing its spread is the microscopic examination of the female moth ; 

 (2) the " Schlafsucht " or " flacherie," not yet accurately investigated, 

 but undoubtedly due to a bacterium ; and (3) the " muscardine," 

 Botrytis Bassiana, the spores of which, carried through the air, 

 settle on the body of the larva, put out their germinating tubes, 

 penetrate the uninjured skin, and produce within the body first 

 conidia and then a mycelium, causing death in from twelve to fourteen 

 days. 



An allied parasite, Cordiceps militaris, is also very destructive to 

 the larvae of insects, and another attacks the cochineal insect. 

 The Empusa which so abundantly attacks flies, &c., is treated in 

 detail. 



As regards Vertebrata, the author describes only the " mycosis " 

 of fishes and birds ; with a few remarks on the fungi parasitic on 

 eggs. Of dermatomycoses, he speaks only of the " favus " of birds. 

 There are also bacteria which cause diseases of the valves and 

 muscles of the heart, of the lungs, liver, &c. The author regards the 

 epidemic as a powerful support, from an etiological point of view, of 

 the theory of contagium vivum. In the mycosis of the lower 

 animals all the characteristics of the epidemic of man and the higher 

 animals can be demonstrated : — the incubation, the normal course, and 

 the mode in which the infectious substance can enter and spread in 

 the body. The resemblances and difierences of the various kinds 

 of infectious diseases due to the attacks of fungi are discussed in 

 detail. 



Magnin's Bacteria.* — Dr. A. Magnin's work on the Bacteria has 

 been translated into English by Dr. G. M. Sternberg, Surgeon U.S. 

 Army, and will be very welcome to many observers as a convenient 

 resume of our knowledge (still only very incomplete) of these forms 

 carried down to a recent date. 



The book is divided into two parts — Morphology and Physiology. 

 Under the former head the form, movements, structure, and difierent 

 modes of association of the Bacteria are dealt with, together with 

 their classification (that of Cohn being given in full), with twenty- 

 four pages of " descriptions of genera and species." The Physio- 

 logical part comprises the origin of bacteria, their nutrition, respira- 

 tion, and reproduction, together with their role in fermentations, 



»uin, A., ' The Bacteria.' Tranel. by G. M. Sternberg, M.D. (8vo. 

 Boston, 1880.) 227 pp. (10 pis.). 



Ser. 2.— Vol.. I. 2 L 



