398 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
reality a Haplospora belonging to the Tilopterideae. It has already been 
described by the author as H. geminata, but the earlier specific name 
Vidovichii is now substituted. It is the only species of that order yet 
known in the Mediterranean, and is at present confined to that sea. 
The antherids of Tilopteris Mertensii are described and figured. 
M. Bornet considers that in the classification of these families it is 
preferable, at present, to use morphological rather than physiological 
characters. The Ectocarpacese and Tilopteridete are thus brought to- 
gether, instead of being placed at opposite ends of the Bhaeosporeae. It 
is difficult, again, to remove E. Lebelii, which has antherids, far from 
E. simplex , globifer, and paradoxus, in which the two kinds of sporange 
contain zoospores in all respects alike, or E. secundus from E. granulosus, 
which resembles it in so many points ; while E. pusillus, with its im- 
mobile spores, is evidently nearly allied to the caispitose species provided 
with zoospores. 
Cosmocladium.* — According to Prof. C. Gobi, this reputed genus of 
Desmidiaceae consists of nothing but a colony of small Cosmarium- cells 
united with one another by two parallel threads. He has been successful 
in following out the formation of the zygosperms, and their germination, 
and the formation of new colonies. A similar phenomenon occurs in 
another genus of desmids. 
Fungi. 
Harpochytrium Hyalothecae.t — Prof. C. Gobi identifies this species 
of Chytridiaceas, described by Lagerheim as the type of a new genus, 
with his own previously described Fulminaria mycophila. It inhabits the 
gelatinous envelope of other freshwater algae besides Hijalotheea. The 
zoogonids, which have only a single cilium, dart, with extraordinary 
rapidity, in a curved path from one spot to another. As soon as they 
come into contact with the gelatinous sheath of an alga they come to 
rest, the cilium is transformed into a foot, and they invest themselves 
with a delicate membrane, becoming transformed into a sporange, which 
is usually straight, though occasionally sickle-shaped. 
Ascomycetes.! — In this volume Dr. O. Brefekl completes his account 
of the Ascomycetes and of the Fungi generally. The history of deve- 
lopment of all the important genera is given, and, in many cases, the 
characteristics of the species. 
The Carpoasci (the higher division of the Ascomycetes) are divided 
into angiocarpous and hemiangiocarpous forms, the former comprising 
the Gymnoasci, Perisporiaceac, and Pyrenomycetes, the latter the Hys- 
teriacese and Discomycetes. 
In the Gymnoasci the fructification has a loose incompletely closed 
envelope ; the asci are formed in small tufts or hymenes on inconspicuous 
fructifications, the filaments of which are partly fertile, partly sterile. 
* Arbeit. St. Peters. Naturf. Gesell. (Bot.) 1891, pp. 16-7. See Bot. Centralbl., 
xlix. (1892) p. 367. 
t Arb. St. Petersb. Naturf.-Gesell. (Bot.), 1891, pp. 15-6. See Bot. Centralbl., 
xlix. (1892) p. 368. Cf. this Journal, 1890, p. 754. 
$ ‘ Unters. a. d. Gesammtgeb. d. Mykolngie, Heft x., Ascomyceten,' Munster, 1891, 
225 pp. and 9 pis. See Bot. Centralbl., 1891, Beili., p. 482. Cf. this Journal, 1891, 
p. 633. 
