210 



RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



Coprinus micaceus, shrivel up before spore-discharge has been 

 completed, and sometimes, indeed, without its beginning at all. 

 Doubtless this is due to too rapid transpiration from the gills 

 and upper surface of the pileus. In moist weather the gills of 

 G. micaceus undergo the typical process of autodigestion, which 

 has the same relation to the zones of spore-discharge as in 

 G. comatus. Stages in the opening out of the pileus and in 





Fig. 74. — Coprinus micaceus. A group of fruit-bodies in a late stage of 

 development. The gills have almost disappeared owing to autodigestion. 

 The rim of the pileus in the foreground is markedly recurved. Photo- 

 graphed at Sutton Park, Warwickshire, by J. E. Titley. About £ 

 natural size. 



the disappearance of the gills of G. micaceus are shown in 

 Plate III, Figs. 18, 19, and 20. 



As a result of my investigations, I- have come to recognise two 

 distinct types of spore-producing and spore-liberating fruit-bodies 

 in the Agaricinefe. One is represented by the Mushroom and 

 the other by G. comatus. The former is by far the more 

 common and includes all ordinary Agaricinere, whilst the latter 

 is restricted to the "deliquescing" Coprini. The significant 



