LICHENS. 191 



were very wet, and drops of rain still hung upon the 

 tall weeds. I disentangled some decayed branches from 

 under these weeds, hoping to find some lichens upon 

 them. I was not disappointed. Numerous thread- 

 shaped stems bore tiny heads, so that the end of the 

 stick where they grew resembled a Lilliputian pin- 

 cushion with the pins half drawn out. Upon apply- 

 ing my pocket lens I saw that these heads were goblet- 

 shaped. Some had discharged their seeds, and were 

 empty, and there was a thin blackish crust spread upon 

 the stick. These peculiarities decided me in naming it 

 the short-stalked goblet-lichen (Calicium curtum, Plate 

 XIII., fig. 3), Upon the same dead branch I found 

 another of the goblet-lichens ; the stem was generally 

 absent, and the cup broader, and of a reddish colour. 

 This was the rusty goblet-lichen (Calicium ferrugineum, 

 Jig. 18). 



Proceeding along the overgrown path I came to a rude 



bridge spanning the slow stream. Laying my hand on 



the rail, I perceived that it became stain ed as with soot. 



Again I produced my lens, and found that a lichen was 



growing thickly on the wood ; this one was stemless, 



but still goblet-shaped. I remembered that the sooty 



powder was a feature in the black goblet-lichen (C. 



tympanellum, Plate XII I., jig. 4). In a lane near, I 



was afterwards tempted to search very closely by espying 



a patch of the Awl-leaved Earth moss on the bank, so I 



stooped very low, examining the ground inch by inch. 



A rotten stump grew in the hedge, and my curious eyes 



wandered around this, and into its dark cavities. There 



a beautiful sight greeted me, a sulphur coloured stain, 



