FUNGI. 229 



culture experi'ments were resorted to, and it was 

 found that, when the flies' excrements were mixed 

 with dung or fecal matter, they germinated and pro- 

 duced a mycelium. Hence the vitality of the spores 

 was not destroyed in their passage through the 

 digestive canal of insects. The inference drawn from 

 the results being, that insects are normally the dis- 

 seminators of the spores of the stinkhorn, which 

 serves to explain the peculiar liquefaction of the 

 hymenium, and to furnish a purpose for the fetid 

 odour, which is accomplished in the attraction it 

 affords to certain flies. 



From the results obtained by investigation of one 

 species of Phalloids, it may be assumed that the 

 deliquescent hymenium of all, and the strong odour 

 of most, have been accounted for, and hence that this 

 small group are pre-eminent above all other fungi 

 in providing special attractions for insects, and in 

 utilizing their services in the dissemination of the 

 spores and the perpetuation of the species. The 

 group, as a whole, belongs to warm regions, and the 

 majority of species inhabit tropical or subtropical 

 countries, where insect life is most abundant. It is 

 also worthy of note that in ninety per cent, of the 

 species the colour of the spore-bearing receptacle is 

 of a most conspicuous colour — either some tint of red, 

 or white, and, when red, of a bright and attractive 

 tint. From tables constructed by Dr, Fulton it 

 appears that seventy-three per cent, of flowers, 

 ninety-six per cent, of Phalloids, and only twenty- 

 four per cent, of other fungi have either white, red, 

 or yellow colouration, which seems to insinuate that 



