150 MR. R. H. BIFFEN ON THE 
differentiation into pileus and stipes is noticeable when the 
sporophore is a few days old. As an example to show the time 
of development, I quote one of the first formed sporophores: the 
sclerotium was recognizable 32 days after infection; in 34 days 
two &mall rounded projections eould be distinguished with the 
help of a simple lens, which two days later (in 36 days) had grown 
to a height of 3 mm. and showed a distinet stipes surmounted 
by an overlapping pileus. A week later the sporophore was 
fully grown and commenced to shed its spores (Pl. 2. fig. 2). 
The mature sporophores are about 2 inches high, and the 
pileus is about half an ineh in diameter. They are readily 
recognizable from the descriptions quoted, though more slender 
in habit than the naturally grown specimens and with a general 
likeness to the closely allied genus Marasmius. The slimy 
appearance of the upper surface of the pileus, so characteristic 
of the species, becomes very marked as the sporophore reaches 
maturity. Then its colour changes slightly, becoming a little 
duller, watery drops are exuded, and it becomes soft and slimy. 
The basidiospores are produced in abundance, and when shel 
frequently form well-marked patterns of the gills on the sides of 
tubes. If transferred to sugar gelatine they readily germinate. 
The size of the basidiospores is very variously stated; thus 
Winter gives them as 8-10 x 1-5 u, Cooke “00027 inch, Massee 
7 x8-3:5 u, Stevenson 8-10X4-5 ji. These variations seem too 
large to be accounted for as mere personal equation errors, and 
tempt one to suppose that the size is not so good a eriterion as 
it is often assumed to be, owing to differences in growth under 
varying circumstances. However, a series of closely agreeing 
observations taken in water from spores of a naturally grown 
specimen, about 2 inches in diameter, gave 70-777 x 44 u; while 
a similar set of observations from a pure culture specimen, 
less than half an inch in diameter, gave 7:2-777 x 4:4 u. 
The formation of spores ceases, and the sporophores wither 
and dry, when about fourteen days old. Then, so far as appear- 
ances go, they are dead; but if kept for some time longer (four 
months in this ease) they show unmistakable signs of life, for 
fresh sporophores are found to be springing either from the pileus 
or the stipes. These secondary sporophores may even produce 
others in their turn (fig. 3). This phenomenon of purely 
vegetative reproduction may probably be brought into correlation 
