62 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Similar results to those described by Sabouraud were onfy attainable by 
using exactly the same media ; hence it would seem that ringworm fungi 
are very sensitive to their environment. The authors found that the 
duration of life on potato was longer than three weeks, and might be 
maintained for at least a year. They differ as to the mycology of ring- 
worm, finding in Microspora spore-bearing hyphse and spores exactly 
similar to those seen in the Endotlirix and Ectothrix Trichophyla. The 
characteristic pectinations were observed, but only on the submerged 
liyphas. In all the groups the aerial hyphae show the same fructifica- 
tion. In Microspora chlamydospores were always present, generally in 
Ectothrix , and never in Endotlirix Trichophyta. 
Myxomycetes. 
Sappinia, a new Genus of Acrasiese.* — Under the name Sappinia 
pedata g. et sp. n., M. P. A. Dangeard describes a new type of this 
family of Myxomycetes, found on old cultures of horsedung. The 
separate Myxamoeba3 may become encysted, or they become fixed at the 
end of stalks ; resting cysts are also formed. Some of the Myxamcebae 
enclose spherical endogenous germs, composed of a large number of 
small rounded corpuscles ; they are apparently produced by a parasitic 
Micrococcus. 
Cribraria and Physarum. f — On the ground of the structure of the 
sporange, Dr. C. Schilbersky proposes to detach Cribraria mirabilis from 
that genus, and to place it under Dictydium. He also describes a new 
species, Physarum mucoroides, parasitic on the stem and leaves of Sedum 
carneum. 
Protopliyta. 
“• Schizopliycese. 
Growth of Diatoms.f — Further experiments by Mr. G. C. Whipple 
show that abundant food-supply is not the only condition for the rapid 
increase of diatoms ; temperature, amount of light, and other factors also 
influencing their growth. In common with all other chlorophyllaceous 
plants, they will not grow in the dark ; while, on the other hand, bright 
sunlight kills them. The intensity of the light below the surface being 
affected by the colour of the water, diatoms are found most abundantly 
in light-coloured waters. Different genera, however, differ in this re- 
spect ; Melosira does not require so much light as Synedra . Weather 
has a marked influence on their growth. They increase most rapidly 
during those seasons of the year when water is in circulation throughout 
the vertical ; during these periods not only is food more abundant, but 
the vertical currents keep the diatoms near the surface, where there is 
light enough to stimulate their growth, and where there is abundance of 
air. Some species display very strong positive heliotropism. 
Formation of Auxospores in the Diatomacese.§ — Herr H. Klebahn 
gives a resume of all the cases hitherto described of the formation of 
auxospores in diatoms, which he classifies under five heads, viz. : — (1) Re 
* Le Botaniste, v. (1896) pp. 1-20 (4 figs.). 
t Bot. Centralbl., lxvi. (1896) pp. 81-6 (1 pi.). 
t Technology Quarterly (Boston), ix. (1896) pp. 145-68. Cf. this Journal, 1895, 
p. 315. 
§ Jahrb. f. wiss. Bot. (Pfeffer u. Strasburger), xxixT (1896) pp. 595-654 (1 pi.). 
