3 1 8 Canadian Record of Science. 



has directed renewed attention to the origin of this valuable 

 material which is now known from the investigations of Dr. 

 Hollick and Dr. Knowlton, to have been derived in some in- 

 stances, at least, from various species of coniferous trees of the 

 type of Sequoia and the Agathis which at present constitutes 

 the source of the well-known "Kauri gum"' of Australia. 



D. P. P. 



The Mycelium of Dry Rot. Recent observations of 

 the dry rot as developed in one of the buildings of McGill 

 University, have brought to light certain unusual features in 

 growth which are worthy of notice with a view to having atten- 

 tion directed to similar possibilities elsewhere. The fungus 

 which was the typical Merulius lachrymans, passed through an 

 opening in a brick wall of a diameter not exceeding one inch, 

 and thus entered a coal bin constructed of brick walls and 

 cement floor. The fungus was not discovered until the 

 coal was nearly exhausted at the end of the winter, and it was 

 therefore completely dried out. It was nevertheless seen to 

 have travelled along the surface of the brick wall for more 

 than two yards from the point of entrance, and from the wall 

 it spread into the coal for a distance of six inches, often com- 

 pletely enfolding lumps of hard anthracite in its growth. It 

 should be noted that the coal was put into the bin wet. The 

 important question for solution is, "did the fungus convey its 

 nutrient materials from the wood work of the adjacent room 



for a distance of three yards, as seems probable? 



D. P. P. 



