CAf.TFOriNlAN FUNGI. 
‘J 
Sphaerella azaliae, C. & Hh. 
Peritheciis gregariis, brunneis, membranaceis, epidermide tectis, 
in maculis orbicularibus congestis. Ascis cylindraceis. Sporidiis 
ellipticis, hyalinis, uniseptatis (-01 x *004 mm.). 
On stems of Aralia californica. (1246.) 
Sphaerella dendzomeconis, C. 4" Bh 
Minima, sparsa, epidermide tecta. Peritheciis membranaceis, 
brunneis. Sporidiis biseriatis, ellipticis, hyalinis, uniseptatis, cel- 
lula infra tenuior (’016 x *005 mm.). 
On stems of Dendromecon rigidum. (1386.) 
Sphaezella acaciae, C. ETc. 
Epiphylla, subgregaria. Peritheciis membranaceis, epidermide 
tectis. Ascis clavatis. Sporidiis biseriatis, hyalinis, sublanceolatis, 
medio constrictis, uniseptatis, binucleatis (*025 X *007 mm.). 
On leaves of Acacia. (1415.) 
The sporidia appear to become ultimately triseptate, but too in- 
distinct to be included in the diagnosis. 
SAPROLEGNIA FERAX. 
The subject of the salmon disease still occupies the attention of 
the Fishery Commissioners, and we observe that a paper on the 
subject has been read at the Dumfriesshire Natural History Society, 
in which it is maintained that the disease is aggravated, if not 
caused, by the presence of a vast number of bacteria in the flesh of 
the diseased spots. Mr. Rutherford writes : — “ Sections of the 
muscle, when placed under the microscope, were seen to be literally 
one mass of life ; that life being a species of Bacteria. They are 
small discoid-looking bodies, which in this case I find embedded in, 
and moving amongst, the striated muscle fibre of the fish, and 
when by pressure or otherwise they are forced into the surround- 
ing fluid, they have a power of motion, moving mostly in a sort of 
circular direction. In some fish that I have examined, I ob- 
served that the muscle was almost detached from the strong fibro- 
muscle layer of the skin, and the muscle fibres of that layer were 
not adhering together as in their natural state, and could be 
separated from each other like threads by the needle. Whether 
that diseased condition of that part of the skin was caused by the 
state of the muscle immediately below it, or by the fungus on the 
surface, I am not in a position to say.” Afterwards he says : — 
‘‘ The disease was located in the muscle of the fish, and I also have 
some idea that it will be found to commence in the blood, caused 
either by the food they eat, or by some deleterious solution in the 
water which passes through the gills; and that the unhealthy 
decaying fluid or matter which will naturally pass off from those 
Bacteria, and exude through the pores of the skin, forms a healthy 
