798 Betts. — A Bee-hive Fungus , Pericystis alvei , Gen. et Sp. Nov . 
Attempts to cultivate Pericystis alvei on bouillon, bee-pupa agar, &c., 
were not very successful ; and there is no reason to suppose that this species 
is ever pathogenic in the bee. It is, in fact, present alike in healthy and in 
diseased stocks ; if occasionally more plentiful in the latter, this is due to 
some secondary cause such as the weakness of the colony rather than to any 
direct connexion with disease. 
As this fungus is undoubtedly a normal inmate of the healthy bee-hive, 
and is, so far as is known, confined to that habitat, I propose for it the name 
Pericystis alvei . 
Pericystis , gen. nov. Hyphis repentibus vel suberectis, contextis, 
ramosis, septatis, multis cellulis in chlamydosporas se mutantibus, tandem 
saepe se dissolventibus. Chlamydosporis terminalibus lateralibus inter- 
calariisque, subglobosis vel irregulariter ovalibus, me mb ran a crassa, levi. 
Cystis subglobosis vel ovoidibus, tribus ad quinque ramis hyphalibus 
ferentibus, sporis numerosis repletis. Membrana cysti membranacea, 
simplice, levi, tandem fusca. Sporis hyalinis, sphericis, membrana crassa, 
levi. 
P. alvei , sp. nov. Characteres ut supra. Mycelium album. Hyphis 
2-6 /x (saepissime 5 /x diam.). Chlamydosporis 9 *5-4-5 x 7-4-5/01. Cystis 
40-20 x 30-20 fx; membrana cysti tandem atroviridi. Sporis 3-7-4 -7/01 
(saepissime 4-3 fx diam.). 
Hab. ad pollinem in favis Apis mellificae. 
Pericystis , gen. nov. Hyphae creeping or suberect, interwoven, 
branched, septate, having many cells converted into chlamydospores, ulti- 
mately breaking up. Chlamydospores terminal, lateral and intercalary, 
subglobose or irregularly oval, thick-walled, smooth. Cysts subglobose or 
ovoid, borne on three to five hyphal branches, containing numerous spores. 
Cyst-wall membranaceous, structureless, smooth, ultimately dark-coloured. 
Spores hyaline, spherical, thick-walled, smooth. 
P . alvei, sp. nov. Characters of the genus. Mycelium white. Hyphae 
2-6 /x (average 5 [x diam.). Chlamydospores 9*5~4*5 x 7-4-5 fx. Cysts 40-20 
x 30-20 fx; cyst-wall ultimately dark green. Spores 37-47 /x (average 
4-3 [x diam.). 
Hab. on pollen in the combs of the honey bee. 
In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to Miss A. Lorrain Smith 
for her kindness in giving me much helpful advice. 
Summary. 
A new fungus, Pericystis alvei , prevalent in bee-hives, is described, 
and its probable life-history discussed. 
