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Hiflory of the Britifh Stellated Lycoperdons. 49 
rally fattened; the rays are ufually fplit fo far, and are broad and 
fhort; whilft thofe which fupport the head are much longer and 
narrower, equally fplit to within about half an inch of the head, 
and always convex outwardly, and concave inwardly, which occa- 
fions them to form rounded angles. The interior furfaces of both 
upper and lower volva are fmooth, and fhew no traces of having 
been forced afunder: on the contrary, a bare infpeétion muft con- 
vince any one, that though they undoubted]y muft have been in 
contact, they fhew no appearance of having been united, except at 
the tips, where they fo ftrongly adhere, that fome confiderable 
force would be neceflary to feparate them *. At this time the 
actual meafurements, of what Mr. Bryant fuppofes correfponding 
parts, by no means accord; and it would be beyond the art of man, 
by moiftening or any other procefs, to bring the upper and lower 
rays to be commenfurate with each other. From what caufe it is, 
that this growth or extenfion, and this arched form of the upper 
rays take place, we know not; but the fact is the fame in all fitua- 
tions. It has been fufficiently proved, that this cannot be occa 
fioned by the caufes to which Mr. Bryant attributes it; and fo far 
from having the appearance of being accidental, the whole looks 
much more like a work of art than of nature, and is ufually taken 
for fuch by perfons unaccuftomed to botanical fubjeéts. This fur- 
prifingly fingular conformation has been looked upon to be the re- 
fult of accident and blind chance! 
* If the fingular appearance of this plant be owing to the accidental feparation of the 
coats of the volva, from decay, and the other caufes to which it is attributed in the pam- 
phlet, how happens it that they fo regularly feparate to the tips of the rays only? and 
why do not the fame caufes operate to feparate them entirely? It would extremely puzzle 
the author of the pamphlet to anfwer this queftion fatisfactorily; and "e whole might be 
. refted on this fole argument, were it neceflary. 
Vor. IT. ; LE 17. À 
MISSOURI 
BOTANICAL 
GARDEN. 
