4 FETCH : 



clear star-sliaped area, as shown in Penzig's figure ; when the 

 membrane deliquesces, the gleba retracts round the opening 

 of the stalk as in ^. rubra. 



This species appears to be Mutinus Fleisckeri, which was 

 first described from Java by Penzig. In structure, Mutinus 

 Fleisckeri would appear to differ from these Ceylon specimens 

 in having the head abruptly contracted and of smaller diameter 

 than the stalk, but from Penzig's figures this feature would 

 seem to be variable ; it is well marked in Penzig's drawing, 

 PI. XXII., fig. 1, but the diameter appears to diminish regu- 

 larly from stalk to liead in his photograph on PI. XXI. A 

 similar variation is noted by Lloyd (Synopsis of the Known 

 Phalloids, p. 28) for Mutinus caninus. The internal structure 

 of the wall of the head is the same in the Ceylon and Java 

 specimens. Penzig states that the colour of the head is 

 similar to that of the stalk, but it must be remembered that 

 he had only specimens preserved in alcoliol. Tlxe latter fact 

 wvAy also account for the rugose appearance of tlie stalk in 

 Penzig's specimens. 



The specimen pliotograplied by Penzig (PI. XXI.) is 

 more obese than the Ceylon forms, and it seems to be more 

 regularly fusoid, tliough Penzig states that the stalk is " am 

 oberen und untei-en Ende kaum merklicli verjungt." There 

 is a marked difference in this respect, i.e., in the fusoid appear- 

 ance, between the same specimen in the fresh state and after 

 preservation in alcohol. For example, one of my specimens 

 measured when fresh 1-2 cm. in diameter just above tlie 

 volva and 1*5 cm. just below the head, an increase of 

 25 per cent.; preserved in alcoliol, the corresponding measure- 

 ments are 1 cm. and 1'4 cm., an increase of 40 per cent. In 

 another specimen similar measurements give 0*8 cm. and 

 1 cm. wlien fresli, an increase of 25 per cent.; but 0*6 cm. and 

 0-9 cm. in alcoliol, an increase of 50 per cent. The contraction 

 in alcohol is greatest in the lower part of the stalk, and this 

 alters the general a])pearance of the fungus. The contraction 

 in length too would make the fungus appear more obese. It 

 would appear that the apparent differences between the Ceylon 

 and Java forma are attributable to the fact that the latter were 

 photographed after preservation in alcohol, while the former 



