TWO COPRINI COMPARED 147 



than 2 inches. The stipe of Copriyius cowatus is both thicker and 

 longer than that of C. sterquilinus by about one-third in equally 

 vigorous specimens. 



(4) As regards the scales on the pileiis. In Coprinus comatus 

 the scales on the pileus are coarse, so that they overlap one another 

 and cover most of the jjileus-surface. In C. sterquilinus the scales 

 are relatively fine, so that they become widely separated during the 

 expansion of the pileus and do not hide the backs of the gills beneath. 



(5) As regards the size of the spores. In Coprinus comatus the 

 spores are 13-5 /a long and 8-5 ft Inroad. The spores of C. ster- 

 quilinus are very distinctly larger, for they are 20-22 /i long and 

 11-12 yu, broad. ^ The basidia of the latter species are also pro- 

 portionally larger than those of the former. 



(6) As regards the number of paraphyses in contact with each 

 basidium. In Coprinus comatus the number of paraphyses in con- 

 tact with each basidium usually varies from six to eight, whereas in 

 C. sterquilinus it usually varies from nine to eleven. 



Coprinus comatus. — This well-known fungus, which was the 

 starting-point in my investigations of the Coprinus Type of fruit- 

 body, was described in considerable detail in Chapter XIX of 

 Volume I. However, owing to discoveries made since 1909, the 

 description then given needs amplifying. I pointed out that, in this 

 species, the spores ripen and are discharged from below upwards 

 on each gill, and that autodigestion proceeds from below upwards on 

 each gill and destroys those parts of the gills which have become 

 spore-free and which would, if they continued in existence, hinder 

 the fall of the remaining spores. I recognised that the gill-plates, 

 exclusive of the flanges, are subparallel-sided. It is now necessary 

 to add that : (1) the gills are very thin, (2) the gills are not positively 

 geotropic but ageotropic, and (3) usually the hymenium on one side 

 of a gill looks slightly downwards and that on the other side slightly 

 upwards. Thus it is clear that Coprinus comatus possesses all the 

 fundamental characters of the Coprinus Type as laid down in the 

 preceding Chapter. 



So far as the special characters of the Comatus Sub-type are 



^ These nieasuiements were made in each species with spores of a single spore- 

 deposit. 



