560 STJMMAfiY OF CUBRENT BESEABCHES KEIATING TO 



Nematopliytoii.* — From a careful examination of tte remains of the 

 fossil forms known as Prototaxites and NematopJiyton (NematopJiycus 

 Carrutli.), from the Devonian strata of Gaspe, including those of a new 

 species. Sir W. Dawson and Prof. D. P. Penhallow confirm the concln- 

 sions of Carruthers, that they are the remains of a gigantic alga probahly 

 nearly allied to the Laminariace^. 



Fmigi. 



Fung'Tis-pigTneiits.t — Herr W. Zopf has examined the composition 

 and properties of a nnmber of pigments obtained from Fnngi, Myxomy- 

 cetes, and Schizomycetes, of which the following particnlars are now 

 given. 



Sriveral fungi contain a pigment nearly allied to gamboge. It was 

 obtained especially from Polyporus liispidus, which is not nncommon on 

 trees. It consists of two substances, one a yellow resin insoluble in 

 water, the other a soluble yellow-green pigment vdth acid properties. 

 The chemical properties of the former substance are given in detail, 

 aoreeing closely with those of that obtained from Garcinia. 



From the fructification of several species of Thelephora a pigment 

 was obtained, which is a mixture of at least three different substances, — 

 thelephoric acid, of a beautiful red colour, crystallizing in blue crystals ; 

 a yellow uncrystallizable acid, soluble in water ; and a yellow resin. 

 They are found both permeating the cell-membranes and as products of 

 excretion, and the last also as a cell-content. 



The beautiful red colour of Trametes cinnabarina is due to a mixture 

 of a substance crystallizing in beautiful cinnabar-red crystals, and of a 

 resin. The former the author proposes to call xantho-trametin. 



In Bacterium egregium, and possibly also in other Schizomycetes 

 and Myxomycetes, Herr Zopf finds a lipochrome or oil-pigment, 

 analogous to the anthocyan of flowering plants, the formation of which 

 is not dependent on the presence of light. 



Musk-fungns.t — Dr. S. Kitasato has found in hay infusions a 

 mould-fungus which gave out a peculiar odour of musk. He was able 

 to cultivate it on extract of meat-peptone-gelatin, agar-agar, bread, 

 potatoes, rice, and in a number of infusions. On a solid substratum the 

 mycele was at first white, afterwards reddish, and finally scarlet, vrith 

 cockscomb-like projections, giving out a distinct odour of musk. 



The development of the mycele can be readily followed out under 

 the Microscope. It consists at first of crescent- or sickle-shaped bodies, 

 7-13 /x long, and 1-1 ' 5 jx broad at the broadest part, with a dividing- 

 line in the middle. At an ordinary temperature of 15-18^ C, after 

 about 12—15 hours, a germinating-tube proceeds out of each end of the 

 crescent-shaped bodies, soon attaining a considerable length, and putting 

 out protuberances, which develope into the unilateral branches which 

 give the comb-like appearance to the mature form. From the filaments 

 are finally produced crescent-shaped protuberances which become 

 detached and remain after the rest of the filament has perished. 



On a solid substratum the filaments become septated into short 

 segments, which form oidium-like bodies of a sausage-shape. These 



* Trau3. Eoy. Soc. Canada, vL 1888 (1889) pp. 27-47 (2 pis.)- 



t Bot. Ztg., xlvii. (1889) pp. 54-61, 69-81, 85-92 (1 pL). 



X Centralbl. f. BakterioL u. Parasitenk., v. (1889) pp. 365-9 (5 fi^). 



