EXPLORATORY NOTICES FOR FEBRUARY. 83 



PolytricJium communis exhibits its stiff green leaves, 

 like groves of fairy palms. 



At this damp time, the Fungi offer an abundant 

 source for examination and research, especially the 

 smaller kinds of Trichice, Pezizce, &c. and the curious 

 Tremtllini. It may be easily noticed how the nabel- 

 liform masses of the latter all arise from simple 

 spheroids, the primordial form of this fungus, pressed 

 and crowded by amalgamating together in their rapid 

 growth, as on damp old pales, hundreds of the common 

 yellow Tremella may be often seen scattered about, 

 and almost all perfectly globular. The bright blue 

 Auricularia (A. phosphorea) } and others of the same 

 family, are now in full perfection, and on old decaying 

 stumps the purple Plilebia mesenterica often appears 

 very conspicuous, as well as the intricately lobed 

 varieties of Thelephorce, and the hairy fingers of 

 Clavarice. In woods the labyrinthal Dcedalea Quercina 

 has a curious aspect at the roots of trees. 



