ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICEOSCOPY, ETC. 547 



Bamhusina, SphcereUa, Chlamydomonas (?), Oocystis, Pleurococcus, 

 Gloeotila, Ulothrix, Hormiscia, Conferva, and Gladophora. Ten species 

 and varieties are new. The mass of the snow-vegetation consists of 

 Sphcerella nivalis, S. nivalis (3. lateritia n. var., Chlamydomonas flavo- 

 virens (?), Pleurococcus vulgaris (3. cohcerens n. var., and Cylindrocystis 

 Brebissonii. 



The ice-flora consists entirely of algae belonging to 6 families and 

 the following 8 genera : — Glceocapsa, Scytonema, Nitzschia, Ancylonema, 

 Cylindrocystis, Cosmarium, Zygnema, and SphcBrella. In both the ice 

 and snow-flora Sphonrella nivalis was frequently met with gamospores, 

 usually spherical, 20-27 /x in diameter, and with blood-red contents, 

 and unilamellar cell- wall. When the spores germinate, the contents 

 first divide into two naked portions, each of which again divides into 

 two, which contract into a spherical form, and clothe themselves with 

 a thin cell-wall. 



The ice- and snow-plants are mostly brightly coloured, and perform 

 an important function in causing a not inconsiderable melting of the 

 snow by their strong absorption of the rays of heat, 



Vaucheria-Galls.* — G. Benko has made a close examination of the 

 galls which infest various species of Vaucheria, and finds them in all 

 cases to be caused by the same parasite, Notommata Wernechii. The 

 species attacked are V. sessilis, geminata, geminata var. racemosa, and 

 dichotoma ; but, in opposition to previous statements, he finds it not 

 always identical in form on the same species. They have always a 

 vertical position, and often stand very close together. 



Motion of Diatoms.f — J. M. Adams suggests that, inasmuch as all 

 efibrts to find some outside means of movement have failed, it is very 

 probable, if not almost certain, that the movements of diatoms are 

 produced within the frustule. " The front view of Naviculce, and of all 

 elongated forms having a central nodule, usually shows a division of the 

 vegetable contents into two or four parts, having a main central alley 

 between them running both lengthwise and crosswise. Currents seem 

 to be produced by some means through these central alleys, and water 

 is forced out of the porous frustule at the ends or sides as through a 

 sieve, inasmuch as the cross lines of diatoms are merely attached 

 globules of silex with spaces between. These globules of silex, beiug 

 so close together, prevent a clear vision of the interior part of the 

 frustule, but it seems probable that vibratile cilia line the surface of 

 the vegetable matter within, and these beating in unison cause the 

 water to flow in one direction or another, as they more or less unite 

 in their action." Could a fresh frustule be broken open, he believes 

 the surface of the vegetable matter within would show this presumed 

 ciliated arrangement. 



To this the following editorial comment is made: — "Our corre- 

 spondent, like many others, finding no satisfactory solution of this 

 problem through observation, resorts to speculation concerning it. 



* Magyar Nov. Lapok, vi. (1882) pp. 146-52. See Bot. Centralbl., xiv. 

 (1883) p. 1. 



t Amor. Mon. Micr. Journ., iv, (1883) p. 59. 



2 N 2 



