46 .— Mr. Woopwarn’s Efay towards an 
of the volva, or inferted between the arched rays fupporting the 
head. 
13. That the volva of this plant lies deep in the ground is very 
true; that is to fay, the top of the unopened volva is ufually even with 
the furface, or perhaps funk juft beneath it; and this very circum- 
ftance, which Mr. Bryant adduces as a proof òf its being a variety; 
is, from its concomitant circumftances, a moft convincing one of its 
being a real fpecies. The opened volva, if the plant has been undif- 
turbed, and is not actually loofened and rolling about, which is fel- 
dom the cafe, is always buried nearly or quite to its tips in the 
eround. From attending to this, it will appear evidently impoffible 
that it fhould open in the fame manner as the ftellatum ; which by 
its fplitting at the top, and the rays abfolutely reverfing their fitua- 
tion, is raifed entirely out of the ground. But Mr. Bryant fays 
(p. 38) that, after having raifed themfelves out of the ground, 
and actually ftanding on the tips of the rays, the lower fkin fepa- 
rates, and forms the bag; € owing to the fun and dry winds getting 
“in and caufing the two fkins to flake from each other; tbe confequence of — 
* which 13, as the upper cuticle contraëfs, it muft recede from the under, 
* and fland upon its tips” It is evident, from this mode of account- 
ing for it, that, as the lower volva is always buried in the ground, 
the under coat muft recede from the upper, and, by fome unknown 
power, again plunge itfelf into the earth, which it had fome time 
before fprung out of; for as it is ufually empty, and clear of any 
mould or other matter, it is impoffible that any run of a bank fhould 
occafion this immerfion : befides, it is often found, as has been before 
obferved, on a flat furface, or on banks covered with grafs or mofs, 
in either of which fituations it is utterly mp that any run of 
the mould could take place. 
14. Again: itis evident, that if two plants of the ftellatum ftand 
| 8 nearer 
