334 The North American Cup-Fungi 



"When they are appearing you will see here and there the 

 irregular opening of the mouth in the white sand. I have found 

 them in January- and February in New Smyrna." 



The writer did not recognize this species and wrote as follows: 



January 31, 1921. 

 Professor H. C. Bearusley, 



Box 1027, New Smyrna, Fla. 

 Dear Professor Beardsley: 



I have just received the cup fungus, and looked it over with much interest. 

 In habitat it is exactly like what is known in the Rocky Mountain regions as 

 the "Hole in the Ground" because that is all that is visible when the plant 

 first appears. That species, however, has the exterior of the cup clothed 

 with a dense covering of brown hairs, also it has a very much larger spore. 

 The only other species that I know of which is at first immersed is beautifully 

 colored in purple or light lilac on the inside of the cup. Your species would 

 probably fit better in the genus Sarcosphaera than in SepuUaria on account 

 of the absence of hairs on the cup. I do not know the species, although I 

 have been working the group for North America. While it may be described 

 I am sure I have never seen it. If it would be possible for you to get any 

 photographs from fresh material, I would be glad to write this up some time 

 in the future. I will send you a reprint of a species of SepuUaria which will 

 give you some idea of the habit of this plant. 



Thanking you for the specimens, I am 



Very truly yours, 



Signed — Fred J. Seaver 



In 1929 the writer encountered a specimen of Peziza funerata 

 from the collection of Geo. Massee in the herbarium and recog- 

 nized it as being identical with the Florida material, and wrote 



the following: 



September 25, 1929. 

 Prof. H. C. Beardslee 



Perry, Ohio. 

 Dear Professor Beardslee: 



In 1921 you sent me a fine Discomycete which >()u coliecletl burieil in 

 the sand in Florida. At the time I was uncertain of the species but as I have 

 just determined its identity I will report to you. It is Peziza funerata which 

 should doubtless become Sarcosphaera funerata which was described by Cooke 

 from material collected in Gainesville, Florida. The illustration and descrip- 

 tion fits exactly and there is no (juestion about the idcntit\-. In preparing 

 my book I overlooked this, probably because it was undetermined, and 

 would like to repcjrt this in the near future. 



At the time of our correspondence I asked yuu for ph(jtographs which 

 have never been received. Will it be possible for you to get photographs 

 during the winter? I would be very glad to get this put up in shape so that 

 it can be recognized in the future. Thanking you for anything you can do, 



I am 



Ver}' sincerely j^ours, 



Signed — Fred J. Seaver 



