i9H] THAXTER— FUNGUS-PARASITES 247 



thousands of other insects belonging to these families which have 

 been examined, this type has not again been seen, and must thus 

 be assumed to be very rare or local. Having in mind their possible 

 floridean derivation, it was at first thought that this type might 

 prove to be connected with some genus of the Laboulbeniales, and 

 to represent a form corresponding in some manner to the monospore- 

 producing C hantransia-i brms among the Rhodophyceae, the gen- 

 eral habit of the plant and its spores suggesting a resemblance 

 of this nature. There seems to be not the most remote possibility, 

 however, that such is actually the case. These plants are not 

 associated with any forms of Laboulbeniales which might by any 

 chance form part of their life cycle, and they have no inherent 

 characteristics, except their similar habitat, which would point 

 to such a connection. 



The spores are, as a rule, rather sparingly produced, and at 

 maturity the outer wall appears to be somewhat viscous or gelati- 

 nous, so that they may perhaps more readily adhere after being 

 abjointed. In many instances, as is indicated in figs. 19 and 21, 



seems 



somewhat smaller terminal 



fertile branch is proliferous, and continues to abjoint spores after 

 the first has been separated. In this process the terminal cell 

 enlarges, pushing upward, and soon divides by a -partition coinci- 

 dent with the plane of separation of the first spore, which is indi- 

 cated by a slight ridge or collar. The upper of these two cells 

 becomes the new spore, and after it has been separated, the lower, 

 renewing its activity, produces a third spore in a similar fashion, 

 and so on. 



The filaments are quite colorless and appear white on the 

 living host. They may be simple, or several times branched, 

 varying considerably in this respect. In one Javan species, not 

 herein included, since it is sterile, a copious development of mostly 

 unilateral branchlets takes place; some of the longer branchlets 

 being elongate and attenuated, as well as spirally coiled at the tips. 

 The filaments are also apt to be beset by masses of bacteria, and in 

 some cases by attached infusoria. The spores usually contain one 

 or more large fattv masses, and the contents of the cells are rather 



