io BOTANICAL GAZETTE [jaxuary 



On the under surface of the abdomen of Chromopterus sp., Kamerun, 

 West Africa. 



The fly on which this curious form grows is closely related to, if not identical 

 with, C. delicatulutn, which bears the type species of Mttiogone. It is quite 

 unexpected that a genus, which has not been seen on any of the numberless 

 genera and species of flies from the tropics that I have examined, should be 

 represented on the same, or on two at least very closely related hosts, by two 

 such clearly distinguished species, of w T hich but one specimen in each instance 

 is known. The present form, although it has exactly the same gross habit, 

 and occurs in the same position on the underside of the abdomen, is clearly 

 distinguished by its uniform pale brown color, the sometimes total absence of 

 any suggestion of a distinction between basal distal and median regions in the 

 somewhat more irregular cell-tiers, and especially in the terminal, spiral, 

 septate, tapering appendages which replace the short spines of the type species, 

 and the resemblance of which to a Gorgon's head has suggested the specific 

 name. These appendages are not formed after the spore has matured, but 

 begin to appear some time before it has attained its full size (fig. 22), although 

 most of the cell divisions have been completed. There is some variation in 

 the spirals, which may be quite regular, or rather indeterminate; and although 

 they usually end in a pointed apex, they may be somewhat blunt. The minute 

 secondary spores are only recognizable here and there in spores which are still 

 in situ (figs. 23, 24). The primary spores become detached, together with an 

 adherent portion of the stalk, and there seems to be no definite mechanism 

 for abjunction. After having been broken thus, the base of the stalk, which 

 remains in position, proliferates as shown in figs. 18 and 19, so that the spore 

 mass is constantly renewed. Owing to the presence of the terminal appendages, 

 as well as the lack of any clear differentiation between the basal, terminal, and 

 middle regions, the original generic diagnosis should be slightly modified. 



Miliaria curvata, nov. sp. (figs. 26, 27). — Sporophores and sterile 

 elements springing in small numbers from a compact blackened 

 base. The spores 2 or 3 in a group; the stalks short, of 5 or 6 

 cells; the termination rather slender, strongly curved, or character- 

 istically recurved distally; the body of the spore rather clearly 

 distinguished, marked by large, very irregular, more or less lon- 

 gitudinal patches, separated by fine light lines and slightly rough- 

 ened, the 4 tiers of functional cells rather well defined, including the 

 broadest portion and with convex margins, the cells relatively 

 large; the lower of the 3 cells above, and usually the upper of the 

 2 or sometimes 3 cells below, showing one longitudinal septum; 

 rather pale yellowish olive brown, the concave side of the termina- 



