100 Rhodora j [Mav 
The common name for any Cyathus is * Bird's Nest fungus” be- 
cause of the resemblance to a diminutive bird's nest and eggs when 
one looks down upon the peridium containing the sporangiola. The 
peridium has a small elongated base and gradually increases in size 
toward the top (Fig. 5). While immature, it is closed at the top, 
but when the sporangiola are fully developed it opens by a deciduous 
lid called the epiphragm. The outer surface is covered with coarse 
fibers but the inner surface is smooth and shining. ‘The sporangiola 
are disc-like in shape and are attached to the peridium by funiculi 
(Fig. 7). The wall of a sporangiolum is tough and composed of two 
layers joined together by interwoven hyphae which also extend into 
the layers (Fig. 3). ‘The spores are borne on basidia to be found only 
in the interior of each sporangiolum. 
A translation of Tulasne's original description of Cyathus Lesueurti 
is as follows : 
CvaTHUS LEsUEURI Tul. — “ Peridium thin, membranaceous, gray 
becoming pale; the outside beset with scattered fibres, sometimes 
converging at their tips, or free of fibres; the inside of peridium 
glabrous; not striated or ciliated at the margin; with a very short 
limb immediately cut off, sometimes none; sporangiola discoid, dark, 
even, having a very tough and thick covering; hymenial layer thin, 
spores thick." 
'There are two forms described, the major and minor forms. 
* Form major, — Peridium campanulate and with an elongated 
stipe, sporangiola and spores thicker: spores 28-32 y. long by 22-24 
. wide.” 
"an Form minor, — Peridium subsessile, becoming white, with smaller 
sporangiola and spores. Spores 22 y. long by 17-19 y. wide." 
The spores taken from the specimens found on the Middlebury 
College campus measured 29.6 x 25.9 m. ; while specimens taken from a 
lawn in the village had spores measuring 29.8 x 27.7 m. (Fig. 1). These 
specimens from Middlebury agree well in general character with the 
description and are doubtless the major form of Cyathus Lesueurit Tul. 
The spores of the Zesweurii from the South Carolina collection in 
Ravenel's F. Am. Exs. No. 474, I found to be of the same shape and 
to measure 26 x 22 yp. 
Another species of Cyathus from the United States has been des- 
cribed, namely, Cyathus stercoreus (Schw.) De. Ton. which resembles in 
many respects Cyathus Lesueurii Tul. The description of Cyathus 
sfercoreus given by Schweinitz is the following : — 
