ON THE STUDY OF MICRO-FUNGI. 369 



prevent the spermatia from being washed off. Whilst the viscid 

 substance in which they are embedded restricts their distribution 

 by preventing the wind from blowing them away, it has been 

 observed, on the other hand, that this investing material forms an 

 attraction for insects on account of the saccharine substance it 

 contains, and that when the insects depart after their feast of good 

 things they carry away, adhering to their feet, small portions of 

 this viscid substance, with, of course, the spermatia that are 

 enclosed in it. The spermogonia are very small, and appear 

 immediately before, or at the same time, as the spores about to be 

 mentioned, and, unless they are specially looked for, may very 

 easily pass unnoticed ; but if a beginner experiences any difficulty 

 in making out the spermogonia to his satisfaction, he will have no 

 trouble in recognising the development we are now to consider : 

 the aecidiospore stage. 



As soon as ever the Nipplewort begins to put forth its young 

 leaves in spring, just so soon should we look out for the first stage 

 of the fungus. We have found it bursting through the leaf as 

 early as the nth February, but it will, as a rule, be most plentiful 

 about the month of April. By, say, the end of May, the first 

 stage will have disappeared entirely. If, then, we examine the 

 plants almost as soon as they appear above the ground, we shall, 

 if the mycelium is present, very soon see evidence of its existence 

 in the change of colour which begins to take place in the affected 

 areas. Before long there will appear, shining through the epi- 

 dermis, the yellow spots which show that the aecidium is being 

 formed beneath, and if we look carefully we shall perhaps be able 

 to find the spermogonia. In a short time the ?ecidium will burst 

 through, and we shall have the pleasure of looking upon a number 

 of Uttle cups filled with yellow spores. 



We say pleasure, because a cluster of these cups, each fringed 

 with a margin of white teeth and brimming over with the golden 

 grains, is a sight which never fails to please, and, especially when 

 examined with a pocket-lens or low power, it forms an object of 

 great beauty. When the fungus is further advanced, it will be 

 noticed that the peridia, or cups, are abundant on both sides of 

 the leaves, and, as it has been stated already that the aecidium on 

 many plants appears only on the under surface, it will be noted 

 that ^cidium lapsaitcB is an exception in that respect. 



