4 HOFFMANN ON THE CIRCULATION 



unequal intensity ; for while the sections of the lamellae were 

 still white, an intense blue was sliown in the angles of their 

 folds ; the fleshy substance in the vicinity was likewise white, 

 while the same exhibited two strongly coloured layers farther 

 up; the superficial layer was also coloured deep blue. Micro- 

 scopical examination showed that the lower part of the cellular 

 tissue which had remained white was more closely packed, with 

 predominant transverse joints, whence the fluid could not pass 

 so readily ; while the upper part, distinguished by its deep colour, 

 facilitated the penetration by the laxity and the varied direction 

 of its cells. 



Trametes suaveolens, Fries. — Several drops of the test fluid 

 were poured upon the bark of the willow stem upon which the 

 fungus grew, near the point of attachment, but without wetting 

 the plant itself. In two days the fungus exhibited a tinge of 

 blue, chiefly at the places where it was attached to the slice of 

 bark, and consequently it must itself have contained a salt of the 

 oxide of iron ; this slight blue colour was also visible on the out- 

 side of uninjured fungi. On the application of chloride of iron 

 to the surface of perpendicular sections, the colour became deeper 

 near the base, and spread somewhat farther, especially in one 

 point as far as the hymenial layer. 



Agaricus virgineus, Pers. — The patch of turf on which it grew 

 was placed in the fluid, and within three hours the entire fungus 

 was penetrated by the latter, which is not wonderful considering 

 the great moisture of the plant. Stipe, pileus, flesh, and gills, 

 were coloured deep blue in the reaction, the pileus darkest at 

 the part where it is continuous with the hollow stipe, while the 

 sections of the gills w-ere only weakly tinged, or did not become 

 coloured at all ; but the passage of the blue-coloured into the 

 uncoloured parts was quite gradual, and exhibited no distinctly 

 marked boundaries. Examination by the microscope revealed 

 a very lax interwoven cellular tissue ; in the lighter spots, cells 

 were seen only half coloured blue, so that the fluid had not com- 

 pletely penetrated them. 



From the foregoing it appears that the path of the circulation 

 has no accurately fixed boundaries in the Fungi, and presents no 

 anatomical peculiarities ; the fluid penetrates forwards and late- 

 rally between and in the cells, proceeding most rapidly in those 



