PHALLOIDE^ OF CEYLON. 5 



were photograplied when fresh. Their identity appears to 

 be indisputable. Whether the structure of the head is distinct 

 from that of Mutinus caninus I have no means of ascertaining. 

 It may be noted that this species is only found in the higher 

 regions of Java and Ceylon. In Java it occurred in the jungle 

 near the mountain garden at Tjibodas ; in Ceylon it was 

 found above the mountain garden at Hakgala. 



Ithyphallus tenuis Ed. Fischer. 



This species was recorded for Ceylon by Fischer (Neue 

 Untersuciiungen Plialloideen, 1893), who found Ceylon speci- 

 mens in Berkeley's herbarium and the British Museum. It 

 was not recorded by Berkeley and Broome, nor are there any 

 specimens in the Peradeniya herbarium. 



It was rediscovered in August, 1908, in the jungle at 

 Hakgala at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. The specimens 

 grew on decaying wood — on a fallen tree about two feet in 

 diameter. They grew along the sides and the under surface, 

 emerging in dense clusters through cracks in the bark, or 

 filling up hollows in the exposed wood, for a length of about 

 three yards. On a moderate estimate, there were more than 

 one hundred fully expanded specimens and over five hundred 

 eggs above 5 mms. in diameter, in addition to countless 

 numbers of tiny eggs just beginning to develop. The myce- 

 lium permeated the rotten wood, and ran in thick cords, up to 

 4 mms. in diameter, between the wood and the loosened bark. 

 A smaller group of specimens was found in the same jungle, 

 also on a rotting log, in May, 1910. 



The " eggs " are up to 2 cms. in diameter, and .splxerical ; but 

 as they grow in dense clusters they are often distorted owing 

 to their mutual pressure. They are at first white, but cliose 

 which have been fidly exposed to light during development 

 become almost black. The outer coat of the volva splits as 

 the egg increases in size, and forms brownish, somewhat 

 floccose, scales on the exterior. 



None of the specimens found expanded in the field were 

 in a fit state to be photographed. Pi-actically all of them had 

 collapsed. Eggs were brought down to the laboratory, and 

 placed in plant pots covered by bell glasses. These expanded 



