342 On a Confer void State of Mucor clavatus. 



meiit of a very extraordinary production of this nature, which on a 

 slight inspection, without carefully weighing its nature, had all the 

 appearance of being a true Algae, I take an early opportunity of com- 

 municating the fact which I have witnessed, as a multiplication of 

 observations of this nature will alone induce cryptogamists general- 

 ly to consider the matter in its true light. 



On the 17th of March a quantity of raisin wine was made in the 

 usual manner, with the exception that boiling water was used. The 

 quantity, however, of water applied at once was not sufficient to 

 communicate a high temperature to the mash. The weather which 

 succeeded was so extremely cold that fermentation did not take 

 place, and it was not convenient to place the tub in a proper tem- 

 perature. In a few days the surface was spotted with white pat- 

 ches of mould, which when perfectly developed proved to be Peni- 

 cillium candidum, Lk. at least the plant was extremely small, and 

 the sporidia never acquired any colour. Meanwhile a few confer- 

 void tufts floating just beneath the surface became visible. This 

 was first observed on the 1st of April, and in a few days the whole 

 surface was coated with a thick scum, of the same colour as the li- 

 quor, resembling a piece of cotton wadding immersed in it, or some 

 of the more slender Conferva?, such as C. sordida, when the green tint 

 has passed away. This production was examined at the time, and 

 found to consist of an intricate mass of branched threads, the 

 branches being often set on at a right angle. Towards the base 

 they were generally more or less unequal, very irregular, without 

 articulations, giving out here and there, scattered or tufted, more 

 slender root-like branches. Towards the surface, the threads be- 

 came articulated, but varying extremely in the length and forms of 

 the divisions, some being nearly cylindrical, and in length exceed- 

 ing the diameter many times, while others were very much swollen, 

 and often almost globular. Occasionally there seemed an effort to 

 form a sporangium. All were filled with a pale grumous nucleus, 

 in which a few distinct granules were visible. Though resembling 

 Confervae in some points, I was convinced, from the irregularity in the 

 manner of articulation, and from a certain indescribable habit, that 

 the plant before me was a state of some mould. The scum being re- 

 moved was accordingly saved, but it underwent no further deve- 

 lopement. As often, however, as the wine was cleared, the produc- 

 tion was again developed, without affecting very sensibly the taste 

 or quality of the wine. Fermentation not taking place, the tub was 



