detected in the Amber of East Prussia. 381 



be likely to preserve any fungus allied to the genus Excipula. 

 I do not find any notice of the occurrence of fungi in any shape 

 in the magnificent work of Dr. Corda on fossil remains of vege- 

 tables. 



In the work of Dr. Goppert and Dr. Berendt on organic re- 

 mains in amber, there are figures of one or two supposed fungi, 

 but none of them very satisfactorily made out, and as regards one 

 at least it is quite certain that it has no relation to the genus 

 Peziza. 



I think then that it cannot be without interest, as well to bo- 

 tanists as geologists, to publish one or two undoubted fungi from 

 amber, the structure of which is as clearly visible as in the spe- 

 cimens of minute algae so beautifully prepared by Mr. Thwaites. 

 I had the pleasure of comparing them with Dr. Thomas's draw- 

 ings in company with that gentleman, and also with Mr. Broome 

 and Dr. Carpenter, and all were highly delighted with their 

 accuracy and the admirable state of preservation of the moulds. 

 There were other species in the collection, but in a far less satis- 

 factory state. I have therefore thought it better to omit them. 

 I have however admitted one species which appears very inter- 

 esting, but of which unfortunately the principal specimen show- 

 ing the fruit has been lost, so that it was not possible to verify 

 the structure ; and certain appearances somewhat analogous in 

 another piece of amber induced some doubt as to the fructifica- 

 tion, the spore-like bodies being in that case undoubtedly globules 

 of air. 



The occurrence of these fungi was first noticed at the sitting 

 of the Berlin Academy, Nov. 16, 1847, at which time also was 

 announced the occurrence of Diatomacea, as recorded in this 

 Journal, 2nd series, vol. i. p. 397. 



The three species may be characterized as follows. 



1. Penicillium curtipes, n. s. Candidum ; hyphasmate parco ; 

 floccis abbreviatis ; ramulis fertilibus diffusis demum divisis, sporis 

 ellipticis. Coll. Thorn, no. 573. 



Hyphasma sparing, loosely branched and mostly at right angles, 

 giving off extremely short flocci, consisting of from three to four 

 articulations which are slightly constricted at the dissepiments, 

 and divided above into two or three threads which are again 

 loosely branched ; lower articulations oblong-elliptic, larger, the 

 upper ones gradually smaller, but always elliptic and quite 

 smooth. 



This species, which is most admirably preserved, is most nearly 

 allied to Penicillium spar sum, Lk. {Aspergillus penicillatus, Grev., 

 Monilia penicillata, Fr.), but differs in its shorter stems and more 

 diffuse tufts of fructifying threads. It is to be observed that 

 Fries's characters of the genus Penicillium appear to be taken 



