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A PARASITE ON PEZIZA. 

 By the Editor. 



We have lately received from C. J. Muller, Esq., of Eastbourne, 

 a very interesting specimen of a Sarcoscyphous P<>:i:<t, which 

 appears to be P. hemispherica, Wigg. The surface of the hyme- 

 nium is rough, with the projecting upper portions of semi-immersed, 

 pale brownish perithecia, each of which is furnished at the mouth 

 with a tuft of delicate, erect hairs. The perithecia are themselves 

 membranaceous and translucent, sometimes wholly immersed in the 

 hymenium, as if proceeding from the inferior stratum, and com- 

 posed of hexagonal cells, with a brownish tint, so as to render them 

 conspicuous amongst the surrounding hymenium. Many of the 

 asci, and septate paraphyses of the Peziza are normally developed. 

 These parasitic perithecia contain free lemon-shaped spores, remind- 

 ing one of the sporidia of certain sphcerice which occur on dung, as 

 S. stercoraria, &c. The spores are dark-brown, and near -001 

 inch in length, but in no instance could we detect asci, or sterig- 

 mata, nor obtain any direct evidence of the mode in which the 

 spores are produced in the perithecia. No perithecia were found 

 with the spores in their early stage, and before acquiring colour, 

 but in all instances they seemed to be matured and free in the peri- 

 thecia. From these circumstances we have been led to regard the 

 parasite as coniomycetous, although not agreeing with the cha- 

 racters of any genus of which we have any knowledge. It has 

 been suggested that these perithecia are not truly parasitic, but that 

 they are another form of fruit of the Peziza. Such is not im- 

 possible, but, from present experience, we are disposed to consider 

 it as rather improbable, although the fact that the perithecia seem 

 to originate from the lower cellular stratum would favour the con- 

 jecture. Under any circumstances, the specimens in question are 

 of a very interesting character, and we have at once placed on 

 record all the facts which have come to our knowledge, in the hope 

 that by turning attention to the subject, other specimens may be 

 found, and a more complete history elaborated for this rather ano- 

 malous production. 



The whole of the features of this parasite seem to favour the 

 supposition that it may be a species of Melanospora, but no asci 

 having been found, it would be too great an assumption to place it 

 in that genus until an examination of specimens in an earlier con- 

 dition settle the question whether the spores are produced on pe- 

 duncles, or whether they are at first enclosed in asci. No species 

 of Melanospora has hitherto been recorded as occurring in Britain. 



