718 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



The bear's head fungus. 

 Photo by George F. Atkinson. 



tion in which they grew. There is one species called the "satyr's beard," 

 sometimes found on living trees, which is a mere bunch of downward- 

 hanging spines; the corallike species is called Hydnum coraloides, and the 

 one that looks like an exquisite white frozen fountain, and maybe seen in 

 late'summer or early autumn growing from dead limbs or branches, is the 

 bear's head fungus; it is often eight inches across. 



~ [Observations i. These fungi come from a stem which extends into 

 the wood. 



2. This stem divides into many branchlets. 



3 . From these branchlets there hang long fleshy fringes like miniature 

 icicles. 



4. These fringes always hang downward when the fungus is in natural 

 position. 



5. These fringes bear the spores. 



LESSON CLXXXIII 



THE SCARLET SAUCER (Sarcocypha coccinea) 



The heart of the child, searching the woods for hepaticas woods 

 where snow banks still hold their ground on north slopes is filled with 

 delight at finding these exquisite saucerlike fungi. They are more often 

 found on fallen rotting branches which are more or less buried in leaves, 

 and there are likely to be several of different sizes on the same stick. 



