THE LAST DECADE. 
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in diameter. So perfectly are the structural details preserved that 
it is possible to distinguish the x^rotophismic contents from the 
enclosing cellulose wall. The authors describe as fully as possible 
the general characters of the fungus, and are inclined to refer it to 
the sub-order Peronospora. Another slide, exhibiting a number of 
disconnected fragments of vegetable tissue, contained, intermixed 
with these, an immense number of small round bodies which are 
considered to be the spores of some fungus. There was no trace of 
mycelium or any other filamentous structure. The authors are of 
opinion that these may be related to the Myxomycetes. The latter 
usually occur on old and decaying stumps and sticks of trees, and 
when in fructification consist mainly of an extremely thin-walled 
sporangium filled with small pores. These, when released by the 
rupture of the sporangium, are scattered in immense quantities, and 
often form a thick layer of dust on the substratum on which the 
fungus has grown. The authors contributed a note on certain 
minute globular organisms which Mr. Carruthers described as 
Traquairia, and considered that they presented affinities with the 
radiolarian group of animals. Prof Williamson, in 1878, described 
the same bodies as of vegetable origin, and the authors were now able 
to confirm this view, and were able to state that the enclosure of 
Traquairia within the sporangium wall was sufficient evidence in 
favour of tlie view that they were of vegetable and not animal origin. 
In 1881 Messrs. Cash and Hick described a representative of a 
new genus of fossil plants which have many points of resemblance to 
the structure of the stem of Myriophyllum, and which they designated 
Myriophylloides Williamsoni. This was followed by a fresh contri- 
bution in 1884, in which the structure of Calamites was given ; and a 
further reference to Myriophylloides. In 1887 Mr. William Cash 
contributed the first of a series of papers on the fructifications of 
the fossil plants of the Yorkshire coal measures, and described and 
illustrated the interesting cone-like fruit spikes of Calamostachys. 
A description of the section in which the hard-bed coal occurs is 
given, as well as the chemical structure of the coal-balls containing 
the plants which occur in this coal. Calamostachys is nearly related 
to calamites and to the existing equisetum, and a comparison between 
