1920] THAXTER— FUNGUS-PARASITES 25 



they must be placed among the Phycomycetes; but they appear to occupy a 

 very isolated position, and it is difficult to agree with this author that they 

 have any close relation to the Saprolegniaceae. 



In regard to their relation to the host, it may be said that the aerial habit 

 of the present form seems to exclude the theory that these plants are purely 

 commensalists, since they can only come in contact with the voided feces; and 

 this fact, taken in connection with their highly specialized sucker-like attach- 

 ment, suggests that they may be, to some extent at least, truly parasitic. 



Harvard University 

 Cambridge, Mass. 





EXPLANATION OF PLATES I-V 



The figures are reduced from camera drawings made with Zeiss dry ob- 

 jectives and eyepieces and Leitz water (no. 10) and oil (1/16) immersion as 



indicated. 



Cantharosphaeria chilensis Thaxter 



Fig. 1. — Portion of host greatly magnified, showing distribution of peri- 



thecia. 



Fig. 2. — Mycelium associated with perithecia; 10, 4. 

 Fig. 3. — Three perithecia among spines on host; D, 2. 

 Figs. 4^5. — Ascus and ascospores; 1/16, 18. 



* 



Termitaria coronata Thaxter 

 Fig. 6. — Young individual showing preliminary stage; subdiagrammatic; 



Figs. 7-8. — General appearance of mature fungus growing on leg and tho- 

 rax respectively; former showing blackened primary attachment which shows 

 through hymenium in center; D, 4. 



Fig. 9. — Habit of growth on host; X25. 



Fig. 10. — Section of mature sporodochium, showing hypertrophied cells 

 of host below chitinous integument; dark line of primary thallus shown, 

 succeeded by fundamental layer, and sporogenous region, showing two primary 

 zones, in upper of which a further differentiation into two zones is indicated; 

 sporodochium traversed by two hairs arising from integument of host; semi- 

 diagrammatic; D, 1. 



Fig. 11. — Hymenium seen from above, showing distribution of toothlike 

 pro jections from sporophores ; 1/16,12. 



Fig. 12. — Sporophores with included spores; semidiagrammatic; 1/16, 12. 



Termitaria Snyderi Thaxter 



Fig. 13. — Portion of preliminary stage, showing margin and chlamy- 

 dospores; 10, 4. 



Fig. 14. — Portion of section of old individual, showing hypertrophied 

 cells of host below slightly intruded primary attachment, blackened primary 



