On tlie decayed stump of a tree^ or similar localitj', but always ou wood, a white mass appears, at 

 first sight resembling a common puff-ball {Bovisia plumhea), frequent on lawns in wet weather ; but the 

 Bovista, although tender, and with a very fragile outer coat, is not, in its earhest state, a mere inspissated 

 milk, as the Rcticularias are, — genuine Mi/xogastres, which might be supposed, but for their after 

 development, to consist only of oozing sap from the timber ; that development is, however, ultimately 

 very beautiful, and unless watched day by day, the fungus could scarcely be thought the same. In 

 Reficularia umbrina a silvery pellicle of the most delicate texture encloses a mass of flocci which spring 

 from a common base, and are branched in a very elegant, distinct, and reticulaleil. manner, whence the 

 name; they may be seen to the most advantage if the spores they bear upon them are blown away; 

 various timber, oak or elm, when much decayed, produces this species, which is not uncommon. 

 Eeticnhria olivacea is peculiar to fir-trees ; the peridium is hyaline, but- the beautiful greenish contents 

 sliine through it, giving their hue to the transparent medium, whence its distinctive appellation, oUvaceas. 



The main points by which to distinguish the often-confused genera Lycogala and Beliculana from 

 each other, are these : — in Lycogala the contents of the peridium are liquid when it is broken ; in Eeticularia 

 they are a creamy mass, which does not flow in drops ; in Lycofjala the ilocci, or threads upon and among 

 which the spores are situated, are very delicate and evanescent, so that when the spores have disappeared 

 they are gone too, involved in the same gelatinous mass, not powdery ; in Reticularia they are persistent, 

 like a powder-puff when the powder has been shaken away, the spores escaping in dust. 



A very lovely little fungus of this tribe is Bidi/miuni ciucreum, which invests grass in stormy 

 weather ; the minute balls form upon the leaves and stems of short hue grass on lawns, kc, so that a 

 blade may be taken for a spike of minute buils of some lavender-coloured flower : these balls burst 

 irregularly at the apex, and then resemble a set of broken shells of some insect's eggs ; they will be 

 found to contain black dust (the spores) placed among reticulated white threads (the flocci), and if entirely 

 emptied of its contents, the inner surface of the peridium sliines like mother-of-pearl, reflecting prismatic 

 colours. 



Lycogala ep'ulendrum is not common, and, when found, can scarcely be mistaken for anything else. 

 In perfection, there are few prettier funguses. No mention is made of its qualities, but some of its 

 congeners are said to have very powerful and dangerous etfecta medicinally. 



