230 LICHENS. 



threads beneath some overhanging rocks ; these threads 

 were branch-like, and forked, and bore here and there 

 little black knobs, which were the characteristic apothecise 

 of the family. This was the Woolly Cornicnlaria (C. 

 lanata, Plate XVI., J'g. 8). There are several species of 

 this genus to be found in Britain : one, the prickly species, 

 produces the crimson pigment which we call lake. The 

 dark, the black and grey, and the sulphur species are all 

 inhabitants of Alpine moors in Scotland. 



The family of the Coral lichens comes next in order : to 

 the naked eye they appear as Crustaceous lichens, but the 

 microscope reveals the title to be classed among the 

 branched group, and their receptacles are thus shown 

 to be cup-shaped. The tree Coral lichen (Isidium heter- 

 omalla) grows in old trunks in the southern and eastern 

 counties, and the granulated in similar situations. The 

 speckled, the dotted, the white, and the eye-like species, 

 frequent rocks in Scotland. 



The Sphaerophon group bears globular apothecise, 

 and has a solid, stem-like, branched frond. Forests of the 

 Coral-like species (S. coralloides, Plate XVI., Jig. 9) 

 adorn those Swaledale rocks, where the Cudbear and 

 Crab's-eye flourish so luxuriantly. The stem is brownish 

 and rather flattened, but the branches are grey, and are 

 forked at the tips. It was brittle when dry, and its 

 reddish brown apothecias were globular. The Compressed 

 species (S. compressum) we gathered on rocks on the 

 heights overlooking Loch Lomond. The crowded plants 

 were very white and hoary, exceedingly minute, and 

 looked as if covered with hoar frost. 



