HARD W ICKE' S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



79 



(11) . Flanchouia epacridis, Maskell. 

 Found in New Zealand, on Leucopogon Fraseri. It 



is a pretty species, the scales appearing half dark 

 green and half bright yellow, and the fringe silvery. 

 The shape is oval, tapering posteriorly. 



(12) . P/anchonia styphelia, Maskell. 



On Styphelia and Leptospermum in Australia. The 

 female scale is whitish, with a faint greenish tinge.. 

 The male is yellow, with iridescent wings, and long 

 caudal filaments. It is figured by Maskell in Trans. 

 N. Z. Inst., 1891, PI. III., f. 16. 



(13). Planchonia ai-abidis, Licht. MS., Sign. 

 On Arabis stricta in France. It is smaller than 

 fimbriate!, and of a clearer colour, with a pretty 

 whitish fringe. 



(14). Planchonia hedem, Licht. 

 Found in France, and destribed in Bull. Soc. Ent. 

 France, 18S0. In 1882 the name was changed, 

 without sufficient reason, to valloti. 



(15). Pla?ichonia quercicola, Bouche. 



Small greenish scales infesting the buds of oak- 

 trees in Europe. I have received English specimens 

 from Mr. Newstead. It has also been found at 

 Washington, U.S.A., but on imported oaks. 



The male is yellowish, more or less inclining to 

 brown, with the antenna; and legs almost black, and 

 the wings transparent whitish-grey. 



Institute of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica. 



WOODLAND WANDERERS, OR THE 

 MYCETOZOA. 



By James Saunders. 



[Continued from p. 8.] 



A BRIEF description of the appearance of the 

 mycetozoa in the fruiting stage, will be helpful 

 to those who wish to observe them in the field. In 

 the immature condition they are often of a different 

 colour from that of the mature. They sometimes 

 present the appearance of minute white beads (Coma- 

 trichia) scattered over the surface of decayed wood or 

 bark. In this state they show in striking contrast to 

 the hair-like black stalks on which they stand. In 

 a day or two the heads change to a dusky brown. 

 Others again appear as minute black beads glistening 

 as though covered with varnish. A slate-coloured 

 species (Cribraria), which eventually assumes a 

 yellowish hue, may occasionally be found on fallen 

 pine-logs. In the early spring a generally distributed 

 species may be observed on decayed tree-stumps, etc., 

 of a lovely pink (Reticularia), the sessile heads of 

 which are about the size of peas. These are not 

 uncommon in Epping Forest and Wanstead Park. 

 Less frequent than this is a species of a scarlet hue, 



which, when mature, shows as a small group of 

 closely compacted cylindrical dark-brown heads 

 (Tubulina). This may be sought on fallen willow- 

 trunks, near to brooks in moist meadows. A much 

 more common species {Trichia Jackii) presents the 

 appearance of a patch of sessile white heads, that when 

 ripe become a bright yellow. One of the most attrac- 

 tive appears as rows or scattered heads, like tiny pink 

 beads {Trichia fallax), but they quickly change to a 

 clayey or ochreous hue. The last-mentioned species 

 was first noticed by the writer on a small island in a 

 secluded park, where many trees had fallen and had 

 been allowed to lie unmolested. These formed a 

 perfect chaos of broken branches and prostrate 

 trunks, over which the still living trees cast a dense 

 shade, the whole surrounded by a damp atmosphere 

 which just suited the needs of these moisture-loving 

 creatures. 



It should be mentioned that if specimens are col- 

 lected in an immature state, it is desirable to keep 

 them under an inverted wet glass, for a few days, so 

 that the contents of the sporangia may become fully 

 matured, as, unless these are so, it would be difficult 

 or impossible to determine the species to which they 

 belong. Many disappointments have been ex- 

 perienced by collectors from not taking these precau- 

 tions. The mature sporangia, or pcridia of some 

 authors, have usually well-marked and permanent 

 colours. A whole series of them, including about 

 one-third of the known British genera, have opaque 

 white heads, the whiteness being due to the presence 

 of lime, which is deposited on the surface during the 

 process of ripening. This group is hence the Cal- 

 carecB. Most of these contain violet or dark-brown 

 spores, and it is desirable always to examine the 

 colour of the spores, as this is an important point in 

 classification. This is easily done either by rubbing 

 a sporangia between the fingers, or, better still, upon 

 a piece of white paper. It will be seen that not only 

 the lime-coloured heads, but many other species, have 

 violet or brownish-violet spores. The genera with 

 these characters comprise about one-half of those 

 found in this country. It is desirable to see that the 

 specimens collected really contain spores, so that one 

 may be spared the experience of the writer, who, on 

 one occasion, found what at first sight appeared to be 

 an interesting group of heads, with the resemblance 

 of an operculum to each. On a careful microscopic 

 examination of the contents of the supposed sporangia, 

 no spores could be detected, but instead only a 

 watery fluid. Upon a re-examination of the general 

 appearance of the specimen it resolved itself into a 

 group of eggs of one of the lepidoptera. As some 

 consolation for the disappointment, one felt that true 

 knowledge is attained, not only by the observation 

 of facts, but also by the rectification of error. Our 

 national collections also are not absolutely free from 

 similar specimens. 



Amongst the genera with dark-coloured spores is a 



