lilt', PETf H : THE FUNGI 



originate on the comb, several examples of the other form 

 may appear above ground from one comb, and all, or nearly 

 all. the immature examples in the chamber are apparently 

 capable of further growth. The conditions which result in the 

 production of the At ■miliaria form are therefore the more 

 favourable to the growth of agarics. 



The colour of the pileus depends on the attenuation of 

 the universal veil. In Pluteus-Mke examples with a small 

 pileus, on which this layer is relatively thick, the colour is 

 often entirely pale brown or tan when dry, becoming livid 

 brown when wetted ; and the deeper tint of the umbo in the 

 usual form is due to the greater thickness of the cartilaginous 

 coat at that point. In specimens which appear in the drier 

 periods the covering is often so thin that the pileus seems 

 almost silky and some are pure white, while in the wet season 

 pilei with a thick, radially-corrugated upper surface are 

 common. Ringed examples on the other hand have only a 

 thin covering and are usually pale gray like the outer half of 

 the ordinary form. The structure of the outer layer of the 

 pileus is identical with that of the ring. If a smooth pileus 

 be allowed to decay under a bell jar, the cartilaginous layer 

 absorbs moisture and swells, wrinkling and ' frilling" at the 

 same time like a photographic plate. 



The combs which have arrived at the agaric-producing stage 

 are soft, have a strong fungus smell, and require verv careful 

 handling to avoid their falling to pieces. In nests of Termes 

 redemanni, combs in this stage contain neither larv;r nor eggs. 

 but only a few workers and soldiers. In the case of Termer 

 oLscuriceps, they usually contain a few larva- also, but in 

 the observed instances of this the lower layers only of tin 

 comb were decayed and the agarics developed from these 

 layers. 



In no case has it been found possible to develop further 



inens of the agaric from oomba which have produced them 



in the nest. All treatment invariably results in a copious 



growth oi the structures dealt with in th<- next section. In 



