CoLENSO. — On 7iew Species of Fungi. 313 



pretty though they are in their recluse place of growth, the 

 very slight movement of the air in putting forth one's hand 

 towards them is often sufficient to break them up into a cloud 

 of spores ! 



Three, however, of the newly detected indigenous species I 

 should not fail to bring to your notice, if only for the peculiar 

 matrices on which they respectively grow, two of them being 

 only found on our delicate and elegant living ferns, Trichomanes 

 venosum, and Hijmenophyllum demissum. On the former of those 

 two ferns, Spharella [Sphcerulina) assurgens is sparingly found ; 

 to the naked eye it is a minute round and slightly elevated 

 black spot with a very small outside. The larger and far 

 more curious species, Cyphella filicina, inhabits the latter 

 fern, covering the tips of its fronds with its whitish cup-like 

 receptacles, presenting a neat appearance somewhat resembling 

 the indusise of a Lindsma. This pretty and scarce fungus has 

 also been found by Mr. Hill, and by Mr. Hamilton, in different 

 localities, and only one specimen by each. Both of those fungi 

 are scarce and rarely met with. The third, a very minute and 

 almost microscopic species, Monilia carbonacea, is only found on 

 the surface of burnt black and dry logs, giving them a very 

 peculiar appearance. In form it resembles a minute and regular 

 necklace of beads (whence, also, its name). It is far fi'om being 

 easily gathered. 



In conclusion, I would briefly refer to another small and 

 delicate species among those in the first list, Mncor stercoreus, a 

 very common fungus at Home ; but this is the first time of its 

 bemg found here, or any of its sub-order. Of the non-detection 

 of this genus (which is a large one) in these parts, Berkely wrote, 

 saying: "No species of Mncor appears in the floras of the 

 Antarctic regions and New Zealand, but I do not doubt their 

 existence there, though none appears to have been collected by 

 Bertero, who was a very close observer, in Juan Fernandez."* 

 And Sir J. D. Hooker, writing in the " Handbook Flora of New 

 Zealand" on the sub-order Physomycetes, to which this genus 

 belongs, makes a similar observation : "To this tribe belong 

 the true moulds {Mucor, etc.), of which species must occur 

 abundantly in New Zealand, though they have never been 

 collected." (p. 600.) 



• Cryptogamic Botany," p. 294. 



