80 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



of the fungus and the small balls are peridioles. The likeness 

 of the two to a nest with eggs has given the common name to 

 the group. 



In our species each peridiole is attached to the peridiun by 

 a slender cord or funiculus which when wet becomes very elas- 

 tic. The peridioles are filled with microscopic spores and 

 these latter furnish characters by which mycologists distinguish 

 the plants. They are not difficult to distinguish from one an- 

 other, and we condense the following account of our four com- 

 mon species from the December number of "Mycological 

 Notes." 



Crncibtihim vulgare is usually found on sticks, chips, etc. 

 The cups are subcylindrical in shape and less tapering than in 

 other members of this group. The color when young is yel- 

 lowish and this is the only species of this color. When old 

 the cups bleach out. In young specimens, the mouths of the 

 peridia are covered with a thin yellowish membrane called the 

 epiphragm. The peridioles are white and this is the only one 

 of the bird's-nest fungi that has white eggs. 



Cyathus striatus is usually found on sticks but sometimes 

 on the ground, in the latter case attached to buried sticks. While 

 , Crucibiilum vulgare has more of a "domestic" nature, being 

 found often around houses, on chips in the wood-yard, on 

 board walks, etc., Cyathus striatus has more of a wild nature 

 and is generally found in the woods on brush-heaps, etc. It 

 can always be known by the striations or lines on the inside of 

 the cups. Cyathus striatus is the only species in th United 

 States or Europe that has these marks. The color of the cups is 

 dark brown or black and the European plant is darker than 

 the American. The latter is sometimes known as the variety 

 Schzveinitzii. The peridioles of C, striatus only fill the lower 

 part of the cup below the striations. They have a thin whit- 

 ish surrounding membrane or tunica, but the eggs would be 

 called black. C. striatus is easily recognized by its striations. 



