ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
327 
into mucilage, and the apical cells are forced out, carrying with them 
the antherozoids still imbedded in the swollen membranes of their 
mother-cells. 
Braithwaite’s British Moss-Flora.*— The last part published of this 
work (pt. xviii.) is entirely devoted to the genus Amblystegium , tho 
number of species described now amounting to forty. Each species is 
illustrated, both as regards its general habit and the characteristic 
points of its structure. 
Rabenhorst’s Cryptogamic Flora of Germany (Musci).t — In the 
two most recently published parts of this work the genus Plcigiothecium 
is completed, with 31 species in all; Amblystegium follows, with 19 
European species ; and a commencement is then made of the important 
genus Hypnum. It is divided first of all into 10 subgenera, viz. : — 
Scorpidium, Acrocladium, Calliergon, Hygrohypnum, Chrysohypnum, 
Drepanocladus, Cratoneuron, Ptilium, Ctenidium, and Stereodon. The 
sub-genus Chrysohypnum is first taken up, with 8 species, followed by 
Drepanocladus (syn. Harpidium), under which 19 species are included. 
Characese. 
Migula’s European Characeae.l — Founded on his contribution to 
Eabenhorst’s Cryptogamic Flora of Germany, Dr. W. Migula now pub- 
lishes a complete synopsis of the European Characese, with a reference 
also to the extra-European species. It comprises 13 species of Nitella, 
6 of Tolypella, 2 of Lamprothamnus, 28 of Chara, 1 of Tolypellopsis, 
and 1 of Lychnothamnus. Every species is figured, except Tolypella 
hispanica, and in the case of the variable species, a large number of sub- 
species or varieties. The systematic part is prefaced by an introduction, 
giving a full account of the structure of the family, together with instruc- 
tions for collecting and preserving the specimens. It forms a complete 
and admirable monograph of the order. 
Algae. 
Studies in the Confer vales. § — According to Herr K. Bohlin, the 
membrane of Microspora is composed of pure cellulose, while that of 
Conferva and Ophiocytium is, for the most part, an acid pectin compound. 
The membrane of Conferva consists of H-formed particles with the fol- 
lowing structure. The middle portion is constructed of a transverse 
plate, and of a more or less cylindrical portion. On both sides of this 
are finger-stall-like layers, added by apposition. The last of these 
forms an imperfect, circle, and from it, together with a probably simul- 
taneously formed transverse wall, is formed a new middle portion, on 
which are laid down new finger-stall-formed lamellae. In the species of 
Microspora examined, there was no such stratification observed ; each of 
the H-shaped portions appeared to be homogeneous. 
The membrane of an Ophiocytium or Sciadium consists of two halves, 
of which the lower is much longer than the upper one. 
* Pt. xviii. 1898, 28 pp. and 6 pis. Cf. this Journal, 1897, p. 221. 
f Pts. 31, 32. Cf. this Journal, 1897, p. 146. 
j ‘ Synopsis Characearum europsearum/ Leipzig, 1898, 176 pp. and 133 figs. 
§ Bih. k. Svensk. Yetensk. Akad. Handl., xxiii. (1897) 56 pp. and 2 pis. Soe 
Bot. Centralbl., xxiii. (1898) p. 213. 
