14 FETCH : 



tlie stalk to the net is coincident witli the beginning of the 

 outward curve of the head. In one specimen, howevei', 

 collected at Peradeniya, tlie lower part of the inflated head 

 has the same structure as the stalk. The specimen is 14 cms. 

 higli , ^vith a stalk 1 • 9 cm. diameter ; the head is ovoid, 3 • 5 cms. 

 high and 2-8 cms. diameter. The lower part of the liead 

 consists of a j'ellow band, reaching to height of 8 mms. on one 

 side and 14 mms. on the other. This band is partly inter- 

 rupted on one side by a complete mesh, and it also includes 

 tliree obsolete meshes closed by a thin yellow membrane. 



The volva of Simhlum periphragmoides is marked internally 

 by yellowish lines and nariow bands of (ibres, radiating from 

 the base of the stalk ; in this respect it resembles Aseroe. 



When yellow specimens of Simhlum periphragmoides begin 

 to decay they turn red or orange-red, and the same colour is 

 developed when tliey are placed in alcoliol. The red and 

 yellow of Simhlum would therefore appear to be closely related, 

 and it seems extremely doubtful whether the different forms 

 are worthy of specific rank. S. periphragmoides and S. texense 

 are yellow, wliile S. sphcerocephalum and S. clathratum are 

 red. Except in the colour, however, there does not appear 

 to be any marked difference. The size of the lueslies, and tlie 

 breadth of the bars, vary as much within the one species, e.g., 

 S. ptriphra^jmoides, as tliey do between *S'. duthralum and 

 S. sphcerocephalum, as sliown in the illustrations of these. I 

 have measured meshes varying from one to nine millimetres 

 in breadth en the same specimen ; and the figure on PL XI., 

 Ann. Perad., Vol. IV., shows variation both in the width of 

 the J)ars and the diameter of the meshes. What separates 

 S. Texense from S. prrijjhragmoides I am unable to make out. 

 in Lloyd's Synopsis of the Known Phalloids (1909), Simhlum 

 gracile {S. prriphraytnoides) is figured with the head swelling 

 outwards regularly from the top of the stalk, while S. Texense 

 has tlie head abruptly contracted into the stalk, or, judging 

 from the j)hotograi)h, the head might be described as umbili- 

 eate below. ]iut tliis is just what happens to Simhlum peri- 

 phrarpnoidc^ after the gleba has disappeared ; the head then 

 " sits down " on the top of the stalk owing to the partial 

 collapse of the bars, and the specimens have then exactly the 



