162 
the starting-point for subsequent idiocy or infantile paralysis. 
Graefe has lately described a peculiar sloughing of the cornea 
of both eyes in infants, where at the post-mortem such a 
diffuse interstitial encephalitis has been found by Cohnheim 
and Hirschberg. — The Medical Record, Dec. 1st, 1868. 
Surirella Capronii, Kitton . — This is a new species of Suri- 
rella recently described by Mr. F. Kitton from specimens 
found by Dr. E. Capron, at Shere, near Guildford, and by 
M. de Brebisson at Falaise, Normandy. Its peculiarity con- 
sists chiefly in one or two horn-like processes which project 
from the longitudinal median line. 
Lichen Zoospores. — In the ‘ Annales des Sciences Natu- 
relles,’ vol. viii, MM. Famintzin and Boranetzky give the 
results of their experiments on the gonidia of Lichens, and 
the transformation of their contents into zoospm-es. The 
common yellow Lichen, Physcia parietina, was the species 
employed. The thallus was for many weeks subjected to 
continual moisture until decomposed, and the conidia isolated. 
The conidia thus obtained were w'ashed and deposited on 
pieces of lime bark. The changes they underwent were 
precisely those whicli M. Nageli describes in a species of 
Cystococcus, which our authors consider to be nothing more 
than Lichen-conidia in transformation. A portion of the 
conidia had their contents changed into zoospores, the rest 
passed through the stages of cell division and fissuration. 
The zoospores are elongated and narrowed at one extremity, 
which is furnished with two vibratile cilia. The period 
varied from four to six weeks from the time of commencing 
the disintegration of the thallus to the development of 
zoospores. The presence of zoospores in Algse has long been 
demonstrated; more recently they were detected in Fungi; 
and now, at least, three genera of Lichens, viz. Physcia, 
Evernia, and Cladonia, are shown to possess them. An 
examination of the conidia of Peltigera has led our authors to 
the conclusion that they are identical with an Alga (Poly- 
coccus), and that those of Collema develop into organisms 
similar to Nostoc. 
A New Microscope. — The Messrs. Solomons, of Marlborough 
Street, have produced a microscope with two object-glasses — 
one, a 1 in. English, the other a Jin., of German make, with 
slow and fine adjustments, condenser on stand, live-box, 
&c., packed in a mahogany stand. It is sold at a low price, 
and appears to be well adapted for students and amateur 
microscopists. 
