370 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
The cell thus formed gradually assumes the appearance of the species, 
and the envelope becomes rapidly silicified, and acquires the characteris- 
tic markings. This re-establishment of the maximum form does not 
appear to be preceded by any act of fecundation, nor does it partake, at 
least usually, of the character of conjugation. Nor is the formation of 
auxospores or sporanges a constant phenomenon, though it may occur in 
some species. 
Cells of Oscillatoria.* — Herr F. A. Marx has examined cells of 
Oscillatoria for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a 
nucleus, and uniformly with negative results ; the central portion always 
remained colourless with staining reagents, though sharply differentiated 
from the peripheral protoplasm. The granules, which frequently 
occur on the septa, sometimes apparently cut in two by the septum, were 
determined to be of an albuminous character, and are probably stores of 
reserve-material. 
Phycocyan of the Oscillatoriacese.t — Herr G. Nadson has extracted 
the colouring matter from species of Oscillatoria , and gives its micro- 
chemical and optical properties. He considers phycocyan to be most 
nearly allied to phycoerythrin among the other pigments of Algse, and to 
belong to the group of hydrochromes. 
Schizomycetes. 
Myxobacteriaceae, a new Order of Schizomycetes.^ — Mr. R. Thaxter 
proposes, under this name, a new group of Schizomycetes, which shows 
a considerable approach in some respects to the Myxomycetes. They 
occur as gelatinous growths on decaying wood, fungi, lichens, and other 
vegetable substances, and on dung. They are motile rod-like organs, 
multiplying by fission, secreting a gelatinous base, and forming pseudo- 
plasmode-like aggregations before passing into a more or less highly 
developed cyst-producing resting state, in which the rods may become 
encysted in groups without modification, or may be converted into spore- 
masses. 
The order comprises Berkeley and Cooke’s genus Cliondromyces , 
placed by Berkeley among the Stilbiacei, and includes also Berkeley and 
Cooke’s genus Stigmatella, and probably also Schroter’s Cystobacter. In 
addition to Berkeley and Cooke’s two species, C. crocatus and aurantiacus , 
two new species are described, C. lichenicolus and serpens. The diagnosis 
of the genus is thus given : — Rods forming free cysts, in which they re- 
main unmodified ; cysts various, sessile or borne on a more or less highly 
developed cystophore. In addition the author describes two new genera, 
viz. : — Myxobacter ; rods forming large rounded cysts, one or more free 
within a gelatinous matrix raised above the substratum ; with two 
species, M. aureus and simplex. Myxococcus ; rods slender, curved, 
swarming together after a vegetative period to form definite more or 
less encysted sessile masses of coccus-like spores; with three species, 
M. rubescens , virescens, and coralloides. The formation of plasmodes or 
pseudo-plasmodes appears to present an affinity to the Mycetozoa. 
* ‘ Unters. iib. d. Zellen d. Oscillarien,’ Erlangen, 1892 (1 pi.). See Bot. 
Centralbl., liii. (1893) p. 174. Cf. this Journal, 1888, p. 275. 
+ Scripta Botanica, iv. (1892) 12 pp. See Bot. Centralbl., liii. (1893) p. 315. 
X Bot. Gazette, xvii. (1892) pp. 389-406 (4 pis.) ; and xviii. (1893) pp. 29 and 30. 
