﻿OF 
  BRITISH 
  FUNGI. 
  99 
  

  

  Scleroderma 
  is 
  irritating 
  to 
  the 
  eyes 
  and 
  nose, 
  and 
  that, 
  

   taken 
  inwardly, 
  they 
  are 
  poisonous 
  ; 
  but 
  for 
  neither 
  of 
  

   these 
  statements 
  are 
  we 
  prepared 
  to 
  vouch. 
  

  

  The 
  order 
  next 
  in 
  rotation 
  is 
  Mi/xogastres, 
  in 
  which 
  

   the 
  entire 
  mass 
  is 
  at 
  first 
  pulpy 
  and 
  gelatinous, 
  becom- 
  

   ing 
  ultimately 
  dusty. 
  This 
  is 
  a 
  remarkable 
  group, 
  

   sometimes 
  presenting 
  individuals 
  exceedingly 
  beautiful 
  

   both 
  in 
  form 
  and 
  colouring 
  ; 
  and 
  were 
  they 
  not 
  of 
  such 
  

   microscopic 
  dimensions, 
  they 
  would 
  certainly 
  become 
  

   popular 
  favourites, 
  only 
  surpassed 
  by 
  some 
  species 
  of 
  

   JEcidium, 
  which 
  would 
  compete 
  with 
  them 
  for 
  the 
  

   preference. 
  Unfortunately, 
  however, 
  these 
  beautiful 
  

   creations 
  are 
  unknown, 
  save 
  to 
  the 
  privileged 
  few 
  who 
  

   have, 
  by 
  the 
  aid 
  of 
  the 
  microscope, 
  become 
  acquainted, 
  

   not 
  only 
  with 
  these, 
  but 
  other 
  minute 
  denizens 
  of 
  a 
  

   new 
  floral 
  world. 
  As 
  it 
  constitutes 
  a 
  portion 
  of 
  the 
  

   plan 
  upon 
  which 
  this 
  work 
  was 
  designed, 
  that 
  it 
  should 
  

   not 
  include 
  more 
  than 
  incidental 
  references 
  to 
  species 
  

   unapprecialle 
  by 
  the 
  naked 
  eye, 
  these 
  and 
  many 
  suc- 
  

   ceeding 
  groups, 
  of 
  greater 
  or 
  less 
  extent, 
  will 
  have 
  to 
  be 
  

   thus 
  summarily 
  dismissed. 
  

  

  It 
  is 
  probable 
  ihat 
  the 
  young 
  student 
  of 
  nature 
  has 
  

   found, 
  and 
  marvelled 
  at, 
  certain 
  curious 
  cup 
  or 
  crucible- 
  

   snaped 
  receptacles 
  containing 
  a 
  number 
  of 
  roundish 
  or 
  

   elliptical 
  bodies, 
  which 
  caused 
  the 
  whole 
  to 
  assume 
  the 
  

   appearance 
  of 
  a 
  miniature 
  birdsnest 
  containing 
  eggs, 
  

   and 
  hence 
  procured 
  for 
  them 
  the 
  name 
  of 
  Birdsnest 
  

   Fungi. 
  These 
  singular, 
  but 
  not 
  uncommon, 
  produc- 
  

   tions 
  are 
  members 
  of 
  the 
  order 
  2V 
  idulariacei 
  (nidulus, 
  

   Lat., 
  a 
  little 
  nest), 
  so 
  termed 
  from 
  the 
  features 
  alluded 
  

  

  u 
  2 
  

  

  