ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICKOSCOPY, ETC. 608 



respect to the developmeut of the horizontal thallus, the author 

 regards C. rangiferina and papillaria as the oldest forms. 



The mode of development of the cups or scyphi does not afford 

 any reliable generic characters ; the same species having sometimes 

 forms in which they occur and others in which they are wantin". 

 Their formation is explained by that of the young podetia. These 

 latter are formed of hyph^, which curve radially at their apices, the 

 middle hyphfe developing in consequence more strongly than the 

 outer ones. As soon as a fissure is produced between these hyphfe, 

 they separate still more at the apex, and thus the cup-like cavity is 

 eventually formed. 



Algge. 



New Maritime Algse.* — In an enumeration of the maritime algse 

 of Heligoland (amounting to 534 species), H. WoUny describes four 

 . new species. 



The first, Arthrosira reptans, is a small parasite found on uncorti- 

 cated Polysiphonieae (P. roseola, urceolata, &c.). It consists of fila- 

 ments of usually elliptical cells 3-5 jj. in length, and 2-3 fx in 

 breadth, of an intense carmine-red colour, and covering the filaments 

 of the Poly siphon i a with various convolutions. Their extreme small- 

 ness has prevented their isolation, and no mode of reproduction has 

 been observed. Its affinity is altogether doubtful. The other three 

 new species, belonging to well-known families, are named TJlva 

 costata, EnteromorpTia clavafa, and Lithoderma maculiforme, the last 

 possibly identical with L. fiuviatile Aresch., but growing in salt 

 water. 



Transformation of a Fertile Branch of Batrachospermum into 

 Prothalliform Branch. f— Under normal conditions, the fertile branch 

 of BatracTiospermum, the result of impregnation, presents the appear- 

 ance of a compact glomerulus, of which the larger terminal cells are 

 ovoid or pear-shaped utricles, the envelope of which bursts when ripe, 

 and sets free the condensed contents in the form of a single reproduc- 

 tive body, the oospore (or oosphere). In a singular anomalous condi- 

 tion observed by M. Sirodot, some or all of the last generations of 

 these fertile utricles elongate and abort, while at the same time the 

 basal cells of the utricles develop into articulated filaments composed 

 of very irregular cells and branching irregularly, closely resembling 

 the persistent prothallium of some species of the genus. 



M. Sirodot has determined the organism known as Chantransia to 

 be the non-sexual form of BatracTiospermum. 



Hanckia, a new Genus of Palmellacese.J — A. Borzi describes a 

 hitherto unknown organism, belonging to the Palmellacese, obtained 

 from the island of Favignana, where it occurs on damp calcareous 

 rocks exposed to the sea. It is composed of cells placed in pairs on 

 a long, solid, hyaline, straight or slightly curved stipes. The cells 

 are ovoid or ellipsoid, and multiply by repeated bipartition. The 



* 'Hedwigia,' xx. (1881) pp. 30-1. 



t Comptes Rendus, xci, (1880) pp. 862-4. 



J NuoT. Giorn. Bot. Ital.. xii. (1880) pp. 290-5 (1 pi.). 



