54 . British Fungi, 



covered with mould, aud the specimens for which the 

 piece was collected be ruined. In the case of large 

 woody species of Pohjporus and allied genera, where 

 the entire fungus is too large for herbarium purposes, 

 a section about half an inch thick through the entire 

 fungus gives a good idea of its form and general 

 structure (such sections are easily made with a fine 

 saw). If the specimen has a stem, the section would of 

 course be through the central portion of that part. The 

 surface of the stem should also be preserved, as it 

 often presents characters of importance in the dis- 

 crimination of species. The numerous form- species 

 collectively constituting the Ilypliomycetes, and popu- 

 larly known as moulds, are difficult to preserve, and 

 after being thoroughly dried, are best kept in shallow 

 boxes. In collecting such forms, a portion of the 

 matrix or substance on which the fungus is growing 

 is cut away, and when perfectly dry, stuck by means 

 of gum to the bottom of the box, or better still, to the 

 inside of the lid, which can then be removed for 

 examination under a low power of the microscope, the 

 box itself being stuck to a sheet of paper of the size 

 adopted for the herbarium. Sketches showing the 

 general habit, mode of branching, presence or absence 

 of septa, and mode of attachment, also shape of spores, 

 should be made from the fresh specimen ; these, if not 

 coloured, should be accompanied by notes describing 

 colour, &c. Moulds, when collected, should be placed 

 separately in small boxes, and pinned down or fixed in 

 some way to prevent the spores from being knocked oS", 

 which would certainly happen if placed loose in the box. 

 The fleshy fungi, containing a large amount of 



