ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
547 
persistent apices of the rhizoids. There is also a mode of rejuvenescence, 
not hitherto observed, by means of the cells of the walls of mature 
bristles, which have a remarkable power of maintaining their vitality 
through long desiccation. The carpospores can also resist drought for 
a considerable period while within the bristles, where they not un- 
frequently germinate. The carpospores closely resemble the vegetative 
propagative cells, but are distinguished by the nature of their contents, 
and by the smaller diameter of the base of the germinating filament. 
Fertilisation of Bangia.* * * § — Mile. K. Joffe has been able to follow, 
in this family, all the stages in the passage of the nucleus of the anthero- 
zoid into the ovum-cell, though not the actual fusion of the two nuclei. 
Previously to conjugation the anthcrozoid places itself in connection 
with the ovum-cell by means of a slender protoplasmic elongation. In 
one case the ovum-cell put out a long filiform prolongation, resembling 
the ti’ichogyne of Florideae, to the apex of which an antherozoid attached 
itself. If the impregnated ovum-cell is very small, it developes itself 
into an oosperm ; but more often it divides into from 2-10 oosperms, 
the usual number being eight. 
Ectocarpus.f — In Edocarpus virescens , M. C. Sauvageau finds two 
kinds of plurilocular sporange, smaller and larger, which he calls 
respectively meiosporanges and megasporanges, and which are always 
found on different individuals. The spores which are formed in both 
kinds are zoospores and not gametes. 
E. confervoides produces, in addition to the ordinary plurilocular 
sporanges (meiosporanges), bodies which at first sight appear comparable 
to the megasporanges of E. virescens , but which the author believes to 
be meiosporanges more or less altered by the attacks of a parasite. 
In E. fulvescens the author describes peculiar organs of attachment, 
similar to those of E. pusillus. The cellulose-pectic nature of the cell- 
walls f of this seaweed is further described in detail. The zoospores 
do not assume their definite form until some time after their escape from 
the zoosporange. 
Variability of Desmids.§ — Herr 0 . Borge briefly discusses the 
variability observed in cultures of Closterium moniliferum and a species 
of Cosmarium. Schmidtle’s conclusions as to variability are not always 
to be relied on ; for the form of the cell varies considerably, and the 
apical appearance is not always constant. 
Phycopeltis.|| — Under the names Ehycopeltis expansa and P. nigra , 
Mr. A. V. Jennings describes two new species of this genus of Algae 
from New Zealand, beth epiphyllous. The former species is constantly 
attacked by the kypkm of a true lichen-forming fungus, the result being 
the production of a specific fertile lichen, Strigula complanata. In the 
case of P. nigra, however, no evidence could be obtained that this species 
is ever affected by any fungus-filaments. The author believes that this 
is in some way connected with the peculiar black colour of the species. 
* Bull. Soc. Bot. France, xlvi. (1896) pp. 143-6 (1 pi.). 
t Journ. de Bot. (Morot), x. (1896), pp. 98-107, 113-26, 140-4, 165-73, 181-7 
(15 figs.). Of. this Journal, ante , p. 92. J Cf. this Journal, ante, p. 442. 
§ Ofversigt K. Vetensk.-Akad. Forhandl., 1896, pp. 289-94 (4 figs.). 
|| Proc. R. Irish Acad., iii. (1896) pp. 753-66 (2 pis.). 
