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taken place on both sides of a hypha of maximum thickness, it had im- 
parted to the latter a somewhat spindle shape (text-fig. 8). The thick 
hypha at a appears to form the end of a short branch, but this is due to 
the absence from its right side of the hypha which originally formed the 
continuation of it. As shown in text-fig. 8, closely beset transverse hyphse 
divide the thick hypha into a number of cells. In the case in point, three 
well-defined and approximately equal cells are formed in the middle of the 
hypha ; in other cases, as many as seven cells are formed in this way. The 
septation is confined to a few only of the hyphse. The cells cut off by the 
process are approximately equal, and their length normally is only slightly 
greater than the breadth. The hyphse are constricted at the points of 
septation, which leaves no doubt of the genuineness of the septa. The 
Fig. 7. x2500. 
formation of constrictions gives the septated hypha a somewhat moniliform 
appearance. In Plate, fig. 9, this is indicated at the point marked a ; the 
hypha here is divided into three cells. 
A greater significance must be attached to the fact that the septation 
affects only a few hyphse. In modern fungi the formation of oidium cells 
is heralded by a similar process of septation, and it is highly probable that 
in the fossil fungus the cells cut off by septation had a reproductive function 
of a similar nature. 
Systematic Position of Pal^eomyces bacilloides. 
It is evident from the absence of transverse septa, and from the general 
character of the reproductive organs, that this species must be assigned to 
the Phycomycetes. It differs widely from the other fungi which have 
been described from the Lower Coal Measures, namely, the two species of 
Peronosporites and the organism described by Cash and Hick. Among the 
Phycomycetes its place appears to be among the Saprolegniacese. This is 
indicated by its probable saprophytic habit, and by the formation of long 
filamentous branches of extreme tenuity, which find their analogue among 
certain species of Achlya. On the other hand, the reproductive organs do 
