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Home Nature-Study Course. 



The Morels. — In May or June in open damp places, as the moist 

 fence corners of meadows or in orchards, the Morels may be found. 



Observations by Pupils: 



Where did you find them? 



Describe the stem. Is it solid or hollow? Is it smooth or rough? 



What is the shape of the cap ? How does it look ? What color is the 

 outer edge of the net-work ? What is the color within the meshes ? 



Take one of these fungi and lay it on a sheet of white paper and note 

 the color of the spores. 



Facts for Teachers. — There is something mysterious about all fungi but perhaps 

 none of these wonderful organisms so strangely impresses the observer as the 



fonntain-like masses of creamy white or the branching 

 white coral that we see growing on a dead tree trunk. 

 The writer remembers as a child that the finding of 

 these woodland treasures made her feel as if she were 

 in the presence of the supernatural, as if she had dis- 

 covered a fairy grotto or kobold cave. The prosaic 

 name of Hedge-hog Fungi has been applied to these 

 exquisite growths. Their life story is simple enough. 

 The spores falling upon dead wood start threads which 

 ramify its cells and feed on its substance until strong 

 enough to send out a fruiting organ. This consists of 

 a stem, dividing into ascending branches; from these 

 branches, depending like the stalactites in a cave, are 

 masses of drooping spines, the surface of each bearing 

 the spores. And it is so natural for these spines to 

 hang earthward -that they are invaribly so placed 

 when the tree is in the position in which they grew. 

 There is one species sometimes foimd on living trees 

 which is a mere bunch of downward-hanging spines 

 that is called "The Satyr's Beard" (Hydmim erin- 

 accus). The one that looks like a fountain is the 

 "Bear's Head" (Hydniim caput ursi) ; the coral-like 

 species is called Hydmim coraloides. 



The Scarlet Saucer {Sarcocypha cocchiea). — The 

 heart of the child, searching the woods for hepaticas — 

 woods where snow banks still hold- their ground on 

 north slopes — is filled with delight at finding these exquisite saucer-like fungi. 

 They are more often found on fallen rotting branches w^hich are more or less buried 

 in leaves, and there are likely to be several of different sizes on the same stick. 

 When they grow unhindered and while they are young they are very perfectly 

 saucer-shaped, and range from the size of a pea to an inch or two across. But 

 the larger they are tlic more likely arc they to be distorted either by environ- 

 ment or by the bulging of rapid growth. The under side of the saucer is beau- 

 tifully flesh-like in color and feeling and is attached at the middle to the 

 stick. The inside of the saucer is the most exquisite scarlet shading to 



An edible morel (Mor- 

 chella esculenta). 



