M. C. COOKE ON BLACK MOULDS. 263 



Spores collected in a terminal head — 



A. Threads capitate. 



Apices simple . . . Sporocybe. 

 ,, lobate . . . Stachybotrys. 



B. Threads not capitate. 



Spores simple . . . Camptoum. 

 „ septate . . . Acrothecium. 



It might have been interesting to have pointed out how some of 

 the moulds under notice possess analogies in other Orders, as, for 

 instance, in the Coniomycetes, where there are no threads. It will 

 be sufficient to suggest Triposporium elegans and Asterosporium 

 Hoffmanni, Helicosporium vegetum and Helicomyces roseus, Septo- 

 sporium atrum and Sporidesmium polymorphism, Macrosporium echin- 

 ellum with Stigmella Montellica, Mystrospormm Spraguei with 

 Sporidesmium of the antiquum type, and Clasterisporium with 

 Sporidesmium of the insidiosum type. These, however, are analogies, 

 and not affinities. 



This communication must not be closed without a few practical 

 observations, with the view of assisting those members who may be 

 desirous of pursuing this branch of investigation. 



The Black Moulds, or Dematiei are a very natural and well- 

 defined group of Hyphomycetal Fungi. It is by no means difficult 

 to find them, and when found a little care will soon enable the 

 student to place them in their proper genera. Undoubtedly autumn 

 and spring are the best of seasons to search for them, but no time 

 is wholly barren. The places are variable, and experience will in 

 such matters prove the best guide. It is useless looking for them 

 except upon decaying vegetable substances, such as old rails, felled 

 trees, chips lying on the ground, rotting twigs, and such materials, 

 which have for some time been at rest, and in a moist condition. 

 An old hedge, a thick old hedge of the antique type, with a mass of 

 half decayed twigs, leaves, and grass, collected about the base of the 

 hedge plants, is a good locality. With a crooked stick many a 

 profitable half hour may be spent at such a spot. The rotting 

 twigs should be scratched out from around the bottoms of the 

 stems of the black thorn, hedge maple, hawthorn, and such plants 

 of which the hedge may be composed, and every stick looked over 

 and thrown aside if useless. If black, sooty, or velvety patches 

 are found, these will probably be caused by a black mould, and in 



