Miscellaneous. 391 stase), and partly into gaseous compoXinds decomposed by contact with the air into carbonic acid and these ammoniacal derivatives. The surprising circumstance that the plant should in this way give off as an excretion a part of its scanty supply of nitrogen loses its improbability, as the author remarks, when we know that the tips of the roots usually have an acid reaction, and that the ammo-niacal derivatives carried down by water into the soil are again taken up by them. Karsten expresses a hope that a thorough study of these conditions will elucidate many phenomena which are still obscure and inexpli-cable, — for example, the penetration of many germinating parasitic fungi into particular organs of plants, particularly such as the de-veloping embryos of more highly organized plants, and their leaf-and flower-buds — and the finding of the fissures of these organs by the germinal mycelium of the fungus, which not unfrequently takes place — further, the finding of the micropyle of atropal ovules projecting freely into the cavity of the ovary by the pollen-tube ; for probably each of these organs exhales a specifically peculiar compound which serves as the first nourishment of some one definite kind of growing fungal germ Or pollen-tube, and guides it to the place of its subsequent development. — Zeitsclir. des cdh/em. bstcrr. Apotheher-Vereines, No. 11, 1871. Communicated by the Author. A new Genus of the Eolidida?. By Prof. Salvatoke Trinchese. Prof. Trinchese, of Genoa, has described a new form belonging to the family Eolididas, obtained upon seaweeds in the port of Genoa, in May 1869. He regards it as forming a new genus most nearly allied to Hermcea, Loven, but also presenting considerable affinity to the genera Pliyllohranchus, Bergh, and Chiorcera, Gould. He characterizes it as follows, under the name of Beccaria, Corpus elongatum, subcompressum, postice attenuatum. Capxd di-stiuctum, utrinque in lobum planum extensum. Podarium latum, angulis anterioribus acutis, paullulum productis. BrancMce uumerosa), foliaceae, seriebus minus distinctis ad latera dorsi disposita}. Rhinop)lioria (superior tentacles) longa, foliacea, con-voluta. Foramina generationis (et ani?) ad dextrum latus. MaccillcB nullse. Pachda dentibus validis non denticulatis prae-dita. The genus is named in honour of Prof. Beccari, For the species he proposes the name of Beccaria tricolor ; it is of a delicate green colour throughout, but covered with small globules of a splendid white and deep carmine-red colour. These extend also to the tentacles and branchial leaves. The white globules form a transverse band across the anterior margin of the body and an-other immediately in front of the pericardial sac. On the dorsal surface of the latter they are arranged in little round groups cir-cumscribed and separated by red globules; and a similar arrange-
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