1914-15.] Fossil Micro-organisms. 119 
spores were spherical, with a delicate limiting membrane. They are shown 
in fig. 12, p. 118. The tetrad position of the spores suggests that all four 
were formed from a single spore mother-cell. 
Sextial Apparatus (?). — In fig. 13 are shown two expanded bodies which 
might conceivably have been sexual bodies, viz. antheridium and oogonium. 
It is impossible to offer more than a suggestion that these were sexual 
bodies. They were certainly borne on adjacent hyphse ; but in view of the 
peculiar habit of this plant of forming protuberances at different points on 
its hyphse, no conclusions as to the »sexual nature of these bodies can be 
drawn until far more evidence can be brought forward. 
Phylogenetic Position. 
There can be little doubt that this organism belonged to a group, the 
nearest representatives of which, among our modern fungi, are to be found 
among the Phycomycetes ; but until the sexual apparatus be discovered, 
which seems at present unlikely, it is not possible to decide whether it was 
more closely related to the Zygomycetes or to the Oomycetes. The nature 
of the hyplise, of the sporangia, and of the spores all points in the direction 
of relationship to the Phycomycetes, and in no single characteristic, with 
one exception, does it differ from a typical member of this group. This 
exception consists in the occasional formation of whorled branches, a 
characteristic unknown not only to the modern Phycomycetes, but to the 
whole group of modern fungi. This mode of branching was not the only 
mode or even the predominant mode, so too much stress cannot be laid upon it 
from the phylogenetic point of view. The essential features in its life-history 
are the loose felted hyphse devoid of transverse membranes, and the forma- 
tion of sporangia at the end of comparatively long stalks, each sporangium 
enclosing a very small number of spores. All these features indubitably 
point to the class among modern fungi which represent these features. 
Consequently it is proposed to bestow the generic name of Phycornycites 
and the name Phycornycites Frodinghamii to this particular species. 
Claims to he regarded as an Iron-Fungus. 
Among present-day forms there are no fungi which are known to 
possess a chemiotactic affinity for iron salts. Organisms possessing this 
affinity, in the presence of iron salts absorb these compounds, pass them 
through their bodies, and ultimately pass them out again. On their 
passage out of the organism the iron salts become oxidised and are to 
a greater or less amount caught in an insoluble condition in the gelatinous 
layer surrounding or constituting a part of the membranes of such organisms. 
