340 The North American Cup-Fungi 



although the writer is still open to conviction on the controversial 

 point. A few illustrations might be sighted: 



CooLiDGE Corner, Mass. 

 26 July 1917. 

 Dear Doctor: 



May not my specimens sent this morning and called Gyr. escidenta be 

 named Gyr. Friesii Cooke, and if so aren't the\' mereh' a form of Gyr. infula, 

 not so saddle shape, as type form. And doesn't this finalK- lead to our identi- 

 f\ing them as Helvella infula^ 



Respectfulh- submitted. 



Signed — Simon Davis 



The specimens referred to by Air. Davis were exceedingly 

 gyrose and might be called Gyromitra esculenta if there is any 

 such species. Yet even as a casual observer he suspected that 

 it was only a form of Elvela infula. 



Some correspondence took place in 1936 between the writer 

 and Mr. G. S. Bell of Toronto, Canada. These letters are as 

 follows: 



April 20/36 



Dear Dr. Seuver: 



You may remember meeting the writer in Dr. Jackson's office at the 

 University of Toronto, when you were here sometime ago. 



At that time we had some discussion as to whether Elvela infula Schaeff. 

 and Gyromitra esculenta Fr. were only forms of the same species. From m>- 

 observations E. infula occurs in the fall and grows on rotting wood and G. 

 esculenta occurs in the spring (April & May) and grows on the ground. If 

 my memory serves me correctly I believe you stated that you were not familiar 

 with the latter. Thinking you might be interested in some specimens I 

 collected yesterday at the edge of a pine woods in a pasture. I am sending 

 specimens under separate cover. The soil is a sandy loam. I have found 

 this species nearly every year (15 to 20) in the same location. They attain 

 a much larger size as a general rule. I have eaten them a number of times 

 without ill effects. I have some photos by W. S. Odell of Ottawa of Elvela 

 itifula which he reports as always growing on rotting wood and his collections 

 were made in Sept., Oct. & Nov. 



I would be interested to learn if you still think G. esculenta simply a 

 g>Tose form of E. infula. 



Yours verj- truly. 



Signed — G. S. Bell 



April 22, 1936 

 Dear Mr. Bell: 



Your letter regarding Elvela infula and Gyromitra esculenta received. 

 I am still open to conviction on the question of the identity of these two forms. 

 If, as you say, the one occurs exclusively in the spring and the other in the fall, 



