ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
149 
Pilinia the number of megazoospores in a gonidange is usually four ; in 
Stigeoclonium it may be as high as sixteen. 
Snow-Flora of Mont Blanc.* * * § — Prof. R. Ohodat records the following 
low forms of life observed on the snow-field of the Col des Ecandies. 
An organism corresponding closely to Hsematococcus lacustris , consisting 
of ellipsoidal cells of a brick-red to purple-red colour, the contents 
frequently dividing into spores, and producing zoospores under culture. 
The author considers it probable that Sphserella nivalis is a stage of the 
same organism. Generically it can hardly be distinguished from 
Clilamydococcas. A new species, Raphidium nivale , is described, not 
associated into colonies. A little known desmid Ancylonema Norden- 
sJcidldii , found also in Norway, was also met with. 
Fungi. 
Protoplasmic Connection in Fungi.f — Herr A. Meyer asserts that 
filaments connecting the protoplasts of adjoining cells are common in 
the higher Fungi, as in all the larger plants. They are especially 
readily recognised in the mycele of Hypomyces rosellus, in which cells of 
the septated hyphas have from 3 to 5 nuclei, and the septa are traversed 
by protoplasmic threads. The same occurs in the sclerotes of Claviceps 
purpurea. The cytoplasms of hyphrn which are at first isolated become 
in this way combined and capable of carrying on a common work. The 
fusion of the spores in Hypomyces may be compared to that of the 
myxamoebae into a plasmode in the Myxomycetes. 
Acid-loving Fungi.J — In dilute solutions of citric acid, Herr C. 
Wehmer finds a fungus-mycele which he determines as belonging to 
Verticillium glaucum. In solutions containing tartaric acid, Citrorayces 
makes its appearance. Renicillium luteum was found when nutrient 
solutions containing sugar were treated with citric acid ; and Aspergillus 
niger when tartaric acid was added. 
Dissemination of Spores by XLain.§— Prof. K. Goebel calls attention 
to the fact that not only the spores of Mosses, but those also of Fungi 
(Geaster) are greatly aided in their dissemination by the action of rain- 
drops. This appears to be the object of the highly hygroscopic property 
of the fructification. 
Mucor proliferus sp. n.j] — Under this name Herr W. Schostako- 
witsch describes a new species readily cultivated on bread or liorse- 
dung, distinguished by the form of the columel, the mode of branching, 
the tendency to prolification, and the dimorphism of the sporanges ; those 
which terminate the main branches being larger and having a thicker 
wall than those which occur on the secondary branches. 
Action of Nitrate of Ammonia on Aspergillus niger.H — M. 0. 
Tanret finds that by doubling or trebling the amount of nitrate of 
* Bull. Herb. Boissier, 1896, pp. 879-89 (1 pi.). 
f Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell., xiv. (1896) pp. 280-1. 
X Beitr. z. Kcnnt. einheimischer Pilze, ii. (1895). Sec Bot. Centralbl., 1895, 
Beih., p. 414:. 
§ Flora, lxxxii. (1896) pp. 480-2. Cf. this Journal, 1895, p. 660. 
|| Ber. Deutscli. Bot. Gesell., xiv. (1896) pp. 260-2 (1 pi.). 
*11 Comptes Rendus, cxxiii. (1896) pp. 948-50. 
