Xl PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



and independent observations of De Bary at Leipzig, and CErsted 

 at Copenhagen, on the identity of ^cidium JBerheridis and Puc- 

 cinia Graminis, so unexpectedly illustrating the popular prejudice, 

 as it has been called, of the effect of the Barberry in producing 

 Rust in corn. Having never devoted myself much to the study 

 of Mycology, I applied to my friend Mr. Currey for a few notes 

 on these papers, and on any others recently published illustrating 

 this singular class of beings, the tremendous effects of which on 

 the development of animal and vegetable life, and consequently 

 on the maiu interests of human existence, are becoming daily 

 more evident. Eesponding to my wishes, Mr. Currey has given me 

 a detailed summary too long for me to read on the present occasion, 

 longer indeed than I should otherwise have thought of inserting ; 

 but it appears to me to be a sketch of the most important results 

 of recent investigations so useful to the naturalist who has little 

 time to devote to the special subject, that I have no hesitation in 

 embodying it in this Address. I have only to add that De Bary's 

 " Morphologie und Physiol ogie " of Fungi, Lichens, and Myxomy- 

 cetse, forming the first part of the second volume of Hofmeister's 

 ' Handbuch der physiologischen Botanik,' which I shall presently 

 refer to, has only reached us since the foUov^dng notes were 

 drawn up. 



Cesati and De Notaris's treatise on the Ascigerous Sphse- 

 riacei* is an attempt to rearrange this vast group of Fungi, which 

 is estimated to contain at least 2000 species. The authors give 

 a short account of the successive views of the different botanists 

 who have from time to time treated of this class of Fungi, and 

 then propose a fresh systematic arrangement, in which they rely 

 mainly upon the substance and texture of the perithecia, and the 

 form and nature of the sporidia. They consider that in general 

 the stroma affords no sufficient characteristics for precise classifi- 

 cation — although it is of value in some cases, when its nature is 

 well defined. They separate the entire family into two great di- 

 visions, — 1st, the Hypocreacei, which includes the genera Cor- 

 di/ceps, Claviceps, Torrulia, Hypocrea, and Nectria; and 2ndly, 

 the Sphseriacei, which they subdivide into 37 genera, 13 being 

 proposed for the first time. 



In reference to the same subject, Mr. Currey has published, in 



* Schema di classificazione degli Sferiacei Italic! aschigeri piii o mcno appar- 

 tenenti al genere Spliseria nell' antico signincato attribiiitogli da Persoon. Per 

 V. Cesati o G. de Notaris. Genova, 1863. 



