234 The American Naturalist. [Mareh, 
Mycelium forming oogonia was brought into a5 per cent. solution of 
cane sugar, in which it grew for a few days and produced many fructi- 
fications. After six days it remained stationary. The cultures in 15 
per cent. sugar solution were poor, and developed what seemed to be a 
yeast form. Conidia-forming mycelium was also grown in a 5 per cent. 
sugar solution, and produced for a few days many conidia, the swarm 
spores of which germinated with long germ tubes. 
Agar-agar was mixed with peptone gelatin and leaf decoction 
(tobacco presumably) in “ various ways,” but without success. Author 
does not give the different proportions. 
Some mycelium was put on the surface of sterilized potato slices, on 
which it grew fairly well. The tissue penetrated by the fungus turned 
red, the starch disappeared, and the cell walls became mucilaginous. 
The fungus grew intra-cellular, but died after afew days. This culture 
succeeded best when kept in the dark. The author does not state 
whether the potato was sterilized by steam or by chemicals. 
The relations of the parasite to drying and to darkness were studied. 
Darkness was found to be generally advantageous to it. 
The mycelium and conidia are unable to withstand the least drying. 
The oospores, however, are more resistant, but succumb to constant 
drying for 14 days, or when the leaves containing them were subjected 
to a hot sun bath for five hours on two successive days. 
Extensive experiments were conducted in order to combat the disease. 
It was found that by the free admission of light and air to the seed beds, 
together with liberal spraying with Bordeaux mixture every five days, 
or after heavy rains and during damp weather, the fungus could be 
held in check. Wheresuch measures were taken the tobacco beds were 
comparatively free from the disease—A. J. PIETERS. 
ZOOLOGY. 
On the Occurrence of Filaroides mustelarum van Ben. in 
American Skunks.—Through the kindness of Mr. Gerrit 8. Miller, 
Jr., I have recently had the opportunity of examining a skull of the 
common skunk (Mephitis mephitica) from North Bay, Ontario, the 
frontal bones of which each exhibited, close to the sagittal plane, & 
prominent swelling over which the bony tissue was so attenuated as to 
be easily crushed by the finger. The specimen was still in the flesh, 
and was preserved in formalin. Mr. Miller tells me that he finds these 
