a new discovery appears to afford some plausible argument in its 

 favour. In Lichens, according to Schwendener, we have the sup- 

 posed parasite surrounding and enclosing its presumed victim, 

 cutting it off from all communication with the outer world from 

 which it has to derive its nutriment ; and yet we are to believe 

 that the poor prisoner not only sustains its own life and feeds its 

 hosts, but nourishes, grows, and multiplies. If the hyphse feed 

 upon the enclosed gonidia, what do the gonidia feed upon? If 

 there really is parasitism in the case, which is very doubtful, may 

 not the gonidia be the parasites, the lichen, the host? or may not 

 the gonidia be mere stages of existence of certain lichens falsely 

 ascribed to Algsa ? The whole question is a very curious one, and, 

 notwithstanding the skill and acuteness of Schwendener and 

 others, requires much more observation and study before the con- 

 clusions derived from them can be taught as an established theory. 

 And whatever be the result, the group of lichens is so distinct in 

 its vegetative characters, and at the same time so extensive and 

 varied a one, that it seems more methodical to treat it, as hereto- 

 fore, as a distinct class, than to absorb it in that of fungi, not- 

 withstanding the close affinity shown by its reproductive organs." 



Should the student desire to possess microscopical preparations 

 of sections of the thallus, spores, &c, of lichens, I can confidently 

 refer him to my friend, the Kev, J. E. Vize, Forden Vicarage, 

 near Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, whose slides, prepared with 

 great scientific knowledge and skilful manipulation, are unrivalled, 

 and cannot be surpassed for beauty and usefulness. 



Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S. (30 Arthur Road, Holloway, London 

 N.), and Mr. W. Joshua, F.L.S. (Cirencester), are also doing great 

 service to practical science in issuing fasciculi of microscopical 

 preparations (in slides) of sections of the thallus, spores, &c, 

 which will enable the student to attain a more thorough and 

 adequate knowledge of internal structure. The examples I have 

 seen are most beautiful and excellent, and are deserving of the 

 highest commendation. 



I take this opportunity to make known that my friend, Mr. 

 Larbalestier proposes to publish under the title of " Labbalestieb's 

 Liohen-Hebbabium " a series of dried Lichens of Ireland, England, 

 and the Channel Islands, four fasciculi of which will be issued each 

 year, each containing 40 species, nearly all rare or little known 

 plants, at 12/6 each fasciculus. Mr. Larbalestier also intends to 

 issue fasciculi of " Lichenes Rabissimi " at 20/- each, independent 

 of the above. 



