OF CERTAIN TERMITE NESTS. 213 



base, where it narrows to about half the width (fig. 15). The 

 lower portion of the broad stalk is of a loose texture internally , 

 and its shape is only preserved by a thick cartilaginous wall : 

 the smaller base is on the contrary solid. The upper white 

 portion of the stem usually bears horny squamules to a varying 

 extent. 



Pll. IX. and X. show this form in various stages. The stalk 

 of the five egg-shaped agarics which appear above ground in 

 Plate IX. are at the back of the cavity and are somewhat curved: 

 the structures in front are developing agarics which have just 

 reached the roof. Plate X. shows various stages in the forma- 

 tion of the ring, and numerous developing agarics. 



The development of this form agrees with that of the appar- 

 ent Pluteus in the formation of the first mound of hyphse, 

 but when the mound is about 5 mm. high, the exteriorly- 

 pointing hyphge develop twisted ends which intertwine and 

 fuse together, ultimately forming a thick cartilaginous coat in 

 which the outlines of the individual hyphae are obliterated. 

 When dry this coat is seen to be slightly hairy. 



On the completion of this process the agaric is a brown 

 cylindrical column slightly inflated upwards (fig. 18). If it is 

 broken off, the outer cartilaginous coat separates from the 

 comb with an abrupt edge and the base of the column is 

 seen to contain some of the comb substance ; but if a section 

 is made through comb and agaric, it is found that the outer 

 coat is continuous with the superficial mycelium, which has 

 also become feebly cartilaginous, at least near the agaric, 

 and where the section crosses a perforation in the comb 

 substance this thinner coat continues to the under sur- 

 face as a sheet of interwoven hyphre (figs. 19, 20). 



The whole of the internal tissue is at first loose and brownish , 

 but becomes whiter and more compact towards the apex when 

 the column has attained the height of about 1 centimetre 

 (fig. 20): at the same time a slight constriction appears about 

 half way up. These features increase until the column is 

 about 25 centimetres high, when the formation of the gills 



