Eev. M. J. Berkeley and Mr. C. E. Broome on British Fungi. 321 



find truly distinct from >S^. epidermidis in its very short flask-like 

 asci and linear-oblong uniseptate sporidia^ which however are 

 scarcely mature^ and may therefore be further divided at a later 

 stage of growth. 



623. S. (Obtectse) melanotes, n. s. Maculis elongatis niger- 

 rimis ; peritheciis tectis, ostiolis minutis ; ascis linearibus ; spo- 

 ridiis ellipticis fuscis. On oak palings, Batheaston, Dec. 1851. 



Forming oblong, somewhat irregular black patches about an 

 inch long, sprinkled with the punctiform ostiola. Perithecia im- 

 mersed, scarcely visible except from their ostiola. Asci linear ; 

 sporidia elliptic, brown, g oVtt^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ long. 



This species has somewhat the habit of B. livida, but has 

 smaller perithecia and different fruit. The black spots are 

 scarcely at all raised. I find nothing like it in Fries. The peri- 

 thecia do not raise the surface of the wood into little waves as in 

 SpJueria anserina, which is described by Persoon as having the 

 sporidia pointed at either end. S. anserina of the ^ English 

 Flora ' is a Sphceropsis. 



Plate IX. fig. 6. a. Asci magnified ; b. sporidia on the same scale as 

 those in fig. 7- 



624. S. (Obtectse) hypotephra, n. s. Maculis effusis cinereis; 

 peritheciis tectis subglobosis ; ostiolis obtusiusculis emergen- 

 tibus j ascis linearibus ; sporidiis elongatis curvulis demum 3- 

 septatis. On oak rails. King's Cliffe, Nov. 1851. 



Forming large cinereous spots. Perithecia covered, globose ; 

 ostiola rather obtuse, protruding. Asci linear ; sporidia unise- 

 riate, oblong, slightly curved, rather narrow, about y qVo^^ ^^ ^^ 

 inch long ; at length 3-septate, often binucleate. Allied to the 

 last, but at once distinguished by the pale spots and differently 

 shaped larger sporidia. 



This somewhat resembles Persoon' s S. anserina j but the spo- 

 ridia are of a different form. 



Plate IX. fig. 7- «• Ascus with sporidia; b. sporidia. 



625. >S. (Obtectse) siparia, n. s. Tecta sparsa; peritheciis 

 magnis depressis lanatis; ostiolo obtuso brevissimo; ascis cla- 

 vatis amplis; sporis oblongo-cymbiformibus cellulosis muco in- 

 volutis. On birch with Prosthemium betulinum and Hendersonia 

 polycystisy Spye Park, Feb. 1850. 



Scattered, covered by the cuticle. Perithecia large, depressed, 

 furnished with a very short central ostiolum, clothed with more 

 or less dense ferruginous wool. Asci large, clavate; sporidia 

 biseriatc, oblongo-subcymbiform, cellular, clothed with a mucous 

 coat. 



This magnificent species, which is allied to S. Janata, in which 



