150 FETCH : 



characters as the relative position of the cap and net, the 

 rounded or flattened bands of the net, the size of the meshes, 

 the depth of the net, and tlie extent of its spread. Where 

 can there be individual variation except in these points ? 

 The comparatively complicated structure of Dictyophora seems 

 to have given rise to the idea that every specimen should be cast 

 in the same mould. As a matter of fact, only the general 

 outhne is constant. 



It is possible to separate one, rather rare, Ceylon form, 

 though it is doubtful whetlier it deserves to be called a distinct 

 species. I have found it on two occasions at Peradeniya, and 

 once in the low-country. The egg is small, about 1 • 5-2 • 5 cms. 

 in diameter, and owing to the thin outer wall is somewhat 

 translucent. The total height is 7-8 centimetres. The stalk 

 tapers slightly upwards, and is 9-11 mm. in diameter : in struc- 

 ture it agrees Avith D. phalloidea. The net is conical, descend- 

 ing about one-half or two-thirds the length of the stalk : in 

 some cases the upper bars are so broad tliat they appear as 

 holes in a continuous plate, but generally the net resembles 

 fairly closely tliat of D. phalloidea. The cap is conical, about 

 1'5 cm. high and 1'3 cm. diameter at the lower margin. 

 When growing the net and stalk are somewhat translucent : 

 they may be white, pale salmon, or pink. The cap is always 

 bright orange-yellow. It is readily picked out in the field by 

 its smaller size, peculiar translucent appearance, and the 

 orange cap : but the only difference which would warrant its 

 separation as a species lies in the arrangement of the bars of 

 the cap. These are thin, deep, and slightly wavy, and are 

 arranged in two series of different height. The deeper bars 

 form a network of large meshes, each of which is subdivided 

 into smaller meshes by lower bars. This arrangement gives 

 the cap a characteristic and easily distinguished appearance. 

 When the gleba begins to disappear, only the deeper bars are 

 visible at first, and the cap appears to be covered with large 

 meshes. The intemiediate meshes, being so much lower, are 

 not seen until the gleba has almost entirely disappeared. The 

 photograph illustiates botli stages, but the lower bars do not 

 come out clearly. On one occasion, eight examples were 

 found arranged in a ring about four feet in diameter. 



