390 Prof. Moseley and Mr. A. Sedgwick. [Dec. 14,. 



Bornet (who only worked with, dried specimens), especially as to the 

 systematic position of Meliola, and the opinion that they are repre- 

 sentative tropical species of the European PJrysiphece. He shows that 

 the original cell, from which the Periihecium is developed by continuous 

 cell-multiplication, must be regarded as containing in itself the 

 undifferentiated elements of an Arcliecarpium and Antlieridium-branch 

 (in the sense of De Bary and others) ; and that after the primary 

 division into two unequal cells, we must look upon one of these — the 

 more slowly divided ascogenous cell — as an Archecarpium, which 

 produces the asci and spores, &c, while the other more rapidly de- 

 veloping cell may be considered the equivalent of the Antheridium and 

 enveloping tissues of such a fruit-body as that of Prysiplie. Thus 

 the sexual process, reduced to a minimum (physiologically) in JEry- 

 sipliece, has here disappeared entirely, the morphological equivalents of 

 sexual organs being also further withdrawn. One step further, and 

 we arrive at forms in which no trace of sexual organs exist. The 

 Meliolas must therefore be regarded as a group, developed along 

 similar lines to those of the Prysiphece, JEurotium, &c, but in which the 

 sexual process has become suppressed to a still greater extent. 



With respect to the pathological action of these fungi on their 

 hosts, the investigations show that no direct parasitic action of the 

 mycelium is recognisable ; the rudimentary liaustoria do not injure the 

 cell-contents, nor even pierce the cell-walls. Injury results indirectly, 

 however, because the well developed mycelium deprives the leaves of 

 light, air, &c, and blocks up the stomata. 



ILL "Note on a Discovery, as yet unpublished, by the late Pro- 

 fessor F. M. Balfour, concerning the Existence of a Blasto- 

 pore, and on the Origin of the Mesoblast in the Embryo of 

 Peripatus Capensis." By Professor Moseley, F.R.S., and 

 Adam Sedgwick, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cam- 

 bridge. Received December 4, 1882. 



The late Professor F. M. Balfour left a considerable amount of 

 material, both in the form of drawings and MSS., which he had 

 intended to employ in the publication of a monograph on the anatomy 

 and development of the members of the genus Peripatus, together with 

 an account of all known species. The portions relating to anatomy 

 and development have been prepared for the press, and will in the 

 course of some months appear in the " Quarterly Journal of Micro- 

 scopical Science " in full ; but as some of the embryological results 

 are of especial interest and of general morphological importance, it 



