432 RESEARCHES OX FUNGI 



basidia nos. 51, 38, 32, 24, 16, 11, 5, and 3. The middle part (about 

 four-ninths) of the next succeeding wave consists of the series of 

 basidia nos. 61, 57, 53, 48, 44, 41, 36, 28, 18, and 8. The fore part 

 (about two-ninths) of the third wave, which succeeds the second, 

 consists of the series of basidia nos. 60, 55, 46, 42, 34, and 31. The 

 stretch of hymenium shown in the illustration is unfortunately too 

 short to show the whole length of any one wave ; but a whole wave 

 can easily be imagined if we suppose that the illustration is 

 enlarged by adding to its left side in succession two copies of it. 

 With this arrangement we should have the following set of basidia 

 making a complete wave : nos. 51 (the hindmost element), 38 

 (the wave declining), 32 (crest of the wave: spore-discharge-), 24 

 (beginning of the fore part of the wave), 16, 11, 5, 3, 61, 57, 

 53, 48, 44, 41, 36, 28, 18, 8, 60, 55, 46, 42, 34, and 31 (the foremost 

 element of the wave). There is a difference in development of 

 about eight and one-half hours between each basidium of the 

 second of the three w r aves and its nearest neighbour of the first 

 wave. Thus, for instance, after about eight and one-half hours, 

 the basidium no. 28 will resemble no. 24 as it is now, no. 18 will 

 resemble no. 16, and no. 8 will resemble no. 5. There is a similar 

 difference between the third wave and the second. Thus, after 

 about eight and one-half hours, the basidium no. 55 will resemble 

 either no. 53 or no. 57, and no. 46 will resemble either no. 44 or 48. 

 The basidia of the rear part of the first wave will now be 

 described. No. 51 has been in the collapsed condition for an hour 

 or more ; its concave end, drawn down to the general level of the 

 hymenium, conceals the sterigmatic stumps. No. 38 is in the act 

 of sudden collapse about 20 minutes after the discharge of its last 

 spore ; its end is rapidly becoming concave and the sterigmata 

 are being drawn into the concavity. No. 32 bears a spore which 

 has a drop about 10 seconds old and of the maximum size on its 

 liilum and which, therefore, should be shot away at once. The 

 other spore was shot awaj 7 from its sterigma about a minute ago, 

 in the direction indicated by the arrow, to a distance of about 

 0-1 mm. This spore is shown in its flight with the water-drop 

 attached to it. No. 24 is about to shoot away its spores, for a 

 water-drop is being rapidly excreted at each spore-hilum. The 



