138 BETTS ! THE FUNGI OF THE BEE-HIVE. 
An old culture has the appearance of a mass of ascl j the fungus, 
as stated by its discoverer, being exceedingly prolific. The naked- 
eve colour is whitish. The spores, before germinating, swell up 
considerably and become globose (27, p- 334). ; 
The asci and spores are not immediately affected by immersion 
in hydrochloric acid or caustic potash solution, even when heat is 
applied, except that they are rendered more transparent. In 
sulphuric acid they are rendered very transparent, and on the 
application of heat are disorganized. 
The fungus was only once cultivated on gelatine ; but appeared 
to grow more luxuriantly on this than on agar (as 1s noted by 
Stoppel). Gelatine is not liquefied. No acid is produced, so far 
as could be ascertained. Germination took place sooner at room- 
temperature than out of doors. The fungus appears to dislike high 
temperatures. 
This species has not been found often enough for any very 
definite statements to be made as to its favourite pabulum in the 
hive; but it appears to grow on the pollen, and was once found 
associated with Pericystis alvei. It has not so far been recorded 
from healthy stocks; but there is no reason whatever to suspect it 
of being pathogenic. 
Gymnoascus setosus, Eidam. 
A fungus believed to be identical with the above is fairly 
common in bee-hives. My specimens differ in some respects from 
G. setosus; but the differences were not considered sufficient to 
warrant the making of a new species. 
The fungus does not grow in tufts or balls, but forms a smooth 
layer, whitish at first, becoming pale sulphur-yellow when the asci 
are formed; when oidia are plentiful, the colour is greenish-grey. 
The hyphae are of two kinds; thick-walled, much branched, spiny, 
olive-brown hyphae, 4 » in diameter (Fig. 4), which are embedded 
in a tangle of thin-walled, somewhat granulated hyphae of a yellow 
colour, 1-4 » in diameter; on some of the thicker of these the asci 
are borne, aggregated in small groups. The asci are globose, 9-10 p 
in diameter; each contains eight ascospores. The ascospores are 
oval, 5 x 3 4, tinged with yellow (Fig. 5). (The dimensions given 
by Massee and Salmon (23) for G. setosus are :—-asci 7-8 1, spores 
5-7 x 2p). The oidia occur frequently, and are of the type figured 
by Dale for G. candidus (8, Pl. xxviii, fig. 56). The oidium-hyphae 
are branched, and break up easily when mature. The oidia are 
cylindrical or globose, 2.5-3 m (Fig. 6). There is probably a 
