Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 327 



except size and colour. The structure is very different from 

 that of Pachyma Cocos, Schwein, Plate VII. fig. 2. 



1. Scytonema arenarium, n. s. Forming a thin uniform 

 yellow brown stratum for some inches over sand, which it 

 binds together by means of numerous transparent colourless 

 rooting filaments. Threads obtuse, flexuous, here and there 

 slightly branched at the base, and rooting ; border thick trans- 

 parent gelatinous ; sporangia obscure, seldom visible, occupy- 

 ing only about a half of the central tube. Plate VII. fig. 3. 



The specimens described above are in the rich collection of 

 Sir W. J. Hooker, who has kindly lent me all the fungi he 

 possesses. Out of the twenty-seven species sent by Messrs. 

 Lawrence and Gurin it will be observed that twelve are com- 

 mon European fungi. Amongst them is a specimen of Par- 

 melia parietina on an apple twig, on which perhaps it had 

 been introduced from England. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE VII. 



Fig. 1. Mitremyces fuscus, with its calyptra ; one of the individuals is 

 cut open to show the inner peridium ; a. sporidia; b. a horizontal section 

 of one of the processes of the mycelium very highly magnified ; c. sporidia 

 and flocci of M. coccineus. 



Fig. 2. Flocci of Mylitta australis from the transparent veins, very highly 

 magnified. 



Fig. 3. Scytonema arenarium ; a. filaments and rootlets ; b. a filament 

 more highly magnified ; c. a portion of a filament with sporangia. 



XL. — Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 

 Mr. Gardner s Journeys in Brazil. 



Villa do Crato, Sertao of the Province of Ceara, 

 December 5, 1838. 



When I had the pleasure of writing to you from the Villa do Ico I 

 expressed myself doubtful as to the success which might attend my 

 visit to this neighbourhood. After a residence, however, of nearly 

 three months in this town, I am happy to inform you that my fears 

 have been agreeably disappointed, and before proceeding to give an 

 account of the nature of the country or its vegetation, I hasten to 

 inform you that yesterday I despatched six cases of plants for Eng- 



