162 ME. F. CTJKREY ON A SPECIES 



lateral carpels with no ovules on their edges (fig. 5), but between 

 them there was an arched body, bearing a style, and studded with 

 four rows of ovules, two on either side, as if the placentae of both 

 carpels had become detached, with a portion of the style from 

 each, and had united to form the arch : — or, were there four carpels 

 originally, the anterior and posterior reduced each to a narrow 

 strip bearing ovules and united together above, so as to form a 

 single style ? 



On a Species of Pilobolus. 

 By Fbedebigk Cttbrey, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. &c. 



[Bead Dec. 16th, 1856.] 



A species of Pilobolus has lately occurred in the neighbourhood 

 of Blackheath, differing in some respects from the only common 

 species, Pilobolus crystallinus, and closely resembling, if it be not 

 identical with, Pilobolus roridus of Bolton, which has hitherto been 

 considered a doubtful form. Like Pilobolus crystallinus it is a 

 most delicate and elegant fungus, although not choice in its 

 habitat, flourishing as it does on the surface of cow-dung. My 

 attention was first attracted by a number of little points of a dull 

 yellow colour, giving a scabrous appearance to the surface of the 

 dung, and an examination with a lens disclosed a very few small, 

 ripe specimens of the Pilobolus, not differing much at first sight 

 from ordinary specimens of Pilobolus crystallinus. By scraping 

 off a thin layer of the cow-dung and keeping it under a small 

 bell-glass in a moist atmosphere, an abundant crop appeared in a 

 few hours, which was followed by others in continuous succession 

 for a fortnight; after which the soil appeared to be exhausted, 

 and in order to procure further specimens a fresh layer of the 

 cow-dung was necessary. I have thus been enabled to follow out 

 the different phases of the plant and to examine its structure with 

 some minuteness. The yellow points above alluded to become 

 elongated into filiform processes, tapering slightly towards the upper 

 extremity, which frequently assumes a clearer and deeper colour 

 (PI. II. fig. 1). Subsequently the apex of these threads becomes 

 gradually swollen into the form of a flattened sphere, at which 

 period the plants look like small orange-coloured pins (fig. 2). 

 The swollen heads gradually change colour, becoming first of a 

 dull olive-green, and eventually black ; or rather (as appears upon 

 a closer examination) a very deep opaque purple. During the 



