ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
85 
ovoid, or globular sporanges, and differs from Ghlorella in having a flatter 
chlorophore. 
All these four organisms were grown independently in nutrient 
solutions, and a large number of observations are recorded on their vital 
conditions and physiological properties. 
Oidium lactis.* — MM. M. Lang and E. de Freudenreich have 
watched the development of Oidium lactis on all kinds of media and 
under various conditions of environment, without observing anything 
particularly new in its morphological and cultural characters. 
Their fermentation experiments, however, led to different results 
from Brefeld’s, and they found that in grape-sugar solutions 0*55 vol. 
per cent, of alcohol could be detected in 10 days, and in 5 weeks 1 vol. 
per cent. Similar but less marked results were obtained from lactose, 
sucrose, and maltose. 
During the fermentation of the last three sugars which were in 
solution with pepton bouillon, the smell of Limburger cheese was per- 
ceptible. This indicated proteid decomposition, and special observa- 
tions were then made with sterile milk. Analysis of the milk after 3, 
6, and 23 weeks showed that there had been continual diminution of the 
casein and increase of peptonoid substances and decomposition products. 
The authors therefore conclude that, besides possessing a fermenting 
power, it can also decompose albuminous substances. 
Fossil Fungi.| — Herr J. Felix proposes the following new genera of 
fossil fungi, the characters of which are in most cases derived from 
spores only : — Chsetosphserites , Trichosporites , Haplo graphites , Clado- 
sporites, Dictyosporites, Spegazzinites. 
Protophyta. 
a. Schizophycese. 
Development of Rivulariese.J — Herr S. Schwendener has investi- 
gated the mode of growth of the Rivulariese, especially Gloeotrichia 
Pisum , and some species of Calothrix and Bivularia. After the manu- 
brium has hibernated, it germinates by the formation of a moniliform 
germ-filament. A very slight apical growth takes place in a single 
division of the apical cell ; the cell-divisions take place principally in 
the upper half of the filament, although great elongation and a constric- 
tion of the filament occur in its lower portion ; there is certainly a fresh 
formation of cell-wall from the protoplasm. The terminal hair is then 
formed from the apical cell. After its formation, cell-division advances 
gradually in a basipetal direction, all the cells taking part in it except 
the basal one, which forms the heterocyst. Owing to the course of cell- 
division here described, the lower portion of the filament is often much 
finer than the upper meristematic portion. A “ gliding growth ” cer- 
tainly takes place in the cell-walls. Above the manubria are stopper- 
like filaments ( Propffaden ) which ultimately become detached. 
* Ann. de Micrographie, vi. (1894), and Landwirthsch. Jalirb., vii. (1893) 
pp. 229-37. 
t Zeitschr. Deutsch. Geol. Gesell., xlvi. (1894) p. 269 (1 pi.). See Hedwigia, 
xxxiii. (1894), Rep., p. 122. 
X SB. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1894, pp. 951-61 (1 pi.). 
