464 Mr. E. J. Quekett on the Ergot of Rye, 



some observations were made to discover the method, and it was found that 

 very many sporidia did not emit tubes or germinate in any way, and evi- 

 dently exhibited indications of the membrane which formed their parietes 

 being injured and broken down, thereby allowing the grannies to escape. 



These atoms thus set at liberty, collected, as described, and could be seen 

 singly, in pairs, or in threes ; anxious to watch the changes these minute par- 

 ticles would undergo, they were daily examined for the space of seven or 

 eight days, and it was observed that they ultimately appeared to beconie 

 bodies like sporidia. During the first and second day no change was ob- 

 served, but after this their margins could not be so well defined by the 

 microscope, owing to a minute halo each presented : this I conceived origi- 

 nated from a glutinous exudation around the granule, which ultimately would 

 harden into membrane and become the coat of the new sporidium : in this I 

 was not mistaken, for after some days their size increased, and gradually ap- 

 peared to approach the condition of other sporidia ; those commencing with 

 two granules had the appearance of two nuclei, those with three and one 

 having their respective numbers also. 



In this manner has been witnessed, by daily examinations, the growth of 

 these sporidia, which, being found on the ergot of every grass yet examined, are 

 without a doubt connected with the cause of its origin ; the observations point 

 out their various methods of germination, their advancement to maturity, and 

 their ultimate production of the means of their increase; the little radiate 

 plant seldom measuring more than -irv-irth ov -r-B-o^h part of an inch in any di- 

 rection. 



From these observations the opportunity has occurred of confirming the 

 fact, that this fungus is capable of existing when separated from the grain, not 

 requiring that organ exclusively as its matrix, which fact was observed by 

 Mr. Smith ; the inference from which must be that the ergot can no longer 

 be considered as a perfect fungus, but a diseased grain, as Leveiil6 described, 

 though he somewhat erred in tlie nature of its production. The external ap- 

 pearances furnish the same proof, as at its apex can be seen the hairs that 

 exist on the healthy grain, and occasionally also the remains of the styles ; at 

 its base is observed the pedicel, still supporting the two scales, consequently 

 the intermediate portion is in the position of the body of the grain, and the 



