ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
429' 
mycelia in the same genus. Clamp connexions are a sign that the 
mycelium on which they arise is the diploid and not the haploid con- 
dition. The methods are described, and the following conclusions are 
reached : — Coprinus sterquilinus and C. stercorarius form clamp con- 
nexions and fruit-bodies in monosporous cultures ; they are homothallic. 
Coprinus lagopus and G. niveus are heterothallic species, but it is possible 
that they give rise, at times, to homothallic strains ; in these respects 
they would be similar to Sckizophyllum commune. A. L. S. 
British Mycological Society. — {Trans. Brit. My col. Soc., 1922, 7, 
221-4). An account is given of the Haslemere Spring Foray of 1921, 
and of the results of the days’ excursions. The evenings were spent at 
the Museum, Haslemere, where the specimens were examined and com- 
pared. In consequence of the dry weather there was a scarcity of larger 
fungi, but many interesting species were collected and have been listed. 
Eleven species of Mycetozoa are included. A. L. S. 
Slugs as Mycophagists. — A. H. R. Buller {Trans. Brit. Mycol. 
Soc., 1922, 7, 270-83). The experiments described by Buller were 
carried out in England. He finds that in Central Canada, owing to the 
dry cold climate, and to the fact that fleshy fungi are extremely abundant 
in the woods, such fungi evidently do not depend on slugs for spore 
dispersal. The writer gives an account of the fungi attacked by slugs, 
and shows that certain species can attract Limax maximus a distance of 
21 ft. As slugs are known to be short-sighted they must be attracted 
by the sense of smell. This extreme sensitiveness of slugs to smell was 
taken advantage of in the w T ar to detect the presence of mustard gas. 
A. L. S. 
Mycorhizal Fungi of Pinus silvestris and Picea Abies. — Elias 
Melin ( SvensJc Bot. Tidsk., 1921, 15 , 192-203, 4 figs.). The author 
made cultures of a number of mycelia from the roots of the trees and 
reinfected seedlings. He is of opinion that the Mycorhiza is not con- 
veyed by the seeds. He discusses the question of the gain to the host 
plant — that being mainly the supply of nitrogen. It is possible that 
the mycelia have the power of fixing nitrogen from the air. Experi- 
ments are still being tried. A. L. S. 
Associated Growth of certain Boleti and Pine Trees. — Lars- 
Gunnar Romell {Svensk Bot. Tidsk., 1921, 15 , 204-13, 4 figs.). The 
paper has a bearing on the question of Mycorhiza : the writer’s principal 
observations concern Boletus luteus , which grows in pine woods, and is 
not found in any locality entirely free from conifers. The mycelium 
was examined, but it was of a mixed nature, and other Boleti , etc., were 
present in the area. The writer concludes, however, that there is strong 
evidence of specialization in the fungi associated with trees. A. L. S. 
Relation of Soil Moisture and Soil Temperature to Bunt 
Infection in Wheat— 0. W. Hungerford (. Phijtopathologist , 1922, 
12 , 337-52). Bunt, or stinking smut of wheat, is a very serious 
trouble in the North-West Pacific parts of America. It is believed 
that the soil is contaminated by wind-blown spores, and that these 
germinate along with the wheat and infect the host seedlings. “ Pre- 
