4 
Massee. — A Revision of 
stage the contents of the head become swollen and the wall 
of the ascus is ruptured at the apex (Pl. I, Fig. 4). 
The spores are almost as long as the ascus, and are 
arranged in a parallel fascicle which is slightly twisted on 
its axis, hyaline, very slender, multiseptate, rarely with few 
septa, or continuous ; and after escaping from the ascus the 
multiseptate ones usually break up readily into their com- 
ponent cells. 
Paraphyses are entirely absent. 
The forms of Isaria , included at present in the Hypho- 
mycetes, are supposed to be the conidial stage of species 
of Cordyceps , and in some instances there would appear to 
be little or no doubt on this point, although it has not been 
definitely proved by cultures in a single instance. Tulasne 1 
has shown, from the evidence afforded by contiguity of 
development, that Isaria farinosa , Fr., is the conidial condition 
of Cordyceps militarise Link. Atkinson 2 has recently studied 
the development of Isaria farinosa , Fr., in artificial cultures, 
and although some very interesting results were obtained, 
the ascigerous condition was not produced. The author 
concludes as follows : ‘ Several cultures on artificial media 
in culture-tubes have been made, but in no case has anything 
resulted which shows the perfect or ascigerous stage of the 
fungus. Upon nutrient agar, nutrient gelatine, and bean- 
stems, nothing but the cottony or fluffy growth, covered by 
the farinaceous fructification, appears. On potato this growth 
first appears, to be succeeded by the characteristic fructifi- 
cation of the Isaria-stage. The fact that the Isaria-stage 
will develop readily on various media such as described 
above, is evidence that it can develop readily as a sapro- 
phyte, and is thus more likely to be preserved in greater 
abundance and in wider distribution than if it were able 
to propagate itself only on insects.’ 
1 Note sur les Isaria et Sphaeria entomogenes ; Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., ser. iv, 
Vol. viii, p. 35 (1857); also, Torrubia militaris, Sel. Fung. Carpol., Vol. iii, 
PI. I, Figs. 19-31 (1865). 
2 Artificial cultures of an entomogenous fungus; Bot. Gaz., Vol. xix, p. 129, 
PI. XIV-XVI (1894). 
