WHITE AKTS AND FUNGI. 393 



abundant crop of Entoloma. It might be suimised from these 

 occurrences that the mycelium had developed from the frag- 

 ments of the combs, but previous experiments in which combs 

 were buried in holes in the ground did not grive any such 

 result, nor is it a general occurrence after termite nests have 

 been dug out. 



Specimens of Entoloma microcarpum were sent to me on one 

 occasion, with the information that they were found growing 

 in largo numbers on the sides of a termite mound. 



The theory that the Entoloma spheres are identical with the 

 spheres of the termite comb is a fascinating one, but up to the 

 present it has not been found possible to substantiate it. The 

 underlying idea is, of course, that after a period of cultivation 

 in the termite nest the fungus loses its vigour and requires 

 rejuvenescence ; and to bring that about the termites carry 

 the spheres up to the surface and plant them out in situations 

 where they will develop the sporophore and so provide spores, 

 which the termites convey back to the nest as " seed " for a 

 new crop of spheres. 



One of the chief difficulties in the way of this theory lies in the 

 difference in structure between the Entoloma sphere and Mjerita 

 Duthiei. It might, however, happen that this re-planting was 

 only necessary when the mycelium ia the comb began to. 

 produce abnormal spheres (though nothing of that kind has yet 

 been found on termite combs) , or it might be that the termite 

 sphere serves only as the " seed," and that, in its subsequent 

 growth in the soil to form the Entoloma mycelium, it produces 

 sph<3res which differ from those which were formed under the 

 very different conditions which prevailed within the nest. 



Up to the present, all experimental work undertaken with the 

 object of establishing a connection between Mgerita Duthiei 

 and the Entoloma spheres has proved fruitless, but the (]uestion 

 is one which appears to demand further investigation, con- 

 ducted at different seasons and with combs in different stages. 



On the available facts, the only explanation which can be 

 given of the occurrence of Entoloma microcarpvm on termite 

 hills, or on the sites of demolished termite nests, is that the 

 fungus grows normally in bare soil, and therefore finds a 

 suitable habitat in such situations. 



