1887-88.] Remarks on the Gemis Aulacodiscus Ehrb. 183 



portance. The Maoris call it Thunder-dirt, a name apparently 

 derived from some savage superstition regarding its origin — a 

 superstition which can be traced back to the time of the 

 ancient Thracians, who named species of this group as if they 

 were produced by thunder. There is a remarkably interesting 

 group of little fungi also belonging to this division, quite 

 curiosities in their way, and popularly known in some places 

 as Bird's nests, from their resemblance to a small nest with 

 eggs. One species is found plentifully on bracken stems, but 

 the neatest and prettiest kind is seen growing on the ground, 

 mostly in stubble-fields, in spring. At the first glance they 

 represent miniature open purses filled with silver coins. In 

 England they are called Pixies' purses, and in Scotland, Siller 

 cups. Scottish country-folks who chance to light upon these 

 fungi on their way to work or market, consider it a lucky 

 omen of the day's success. 



Among the other divisions of fungi, folk-lore is almost 

 confined to a small group whose striking appearance has 

 attracted popular notice. They are called Fairy cups, and the 

 loveliest and most striking of them, if not of all the fungi, is 

 the Scarlet cup. Fairy bath, or Whooping cup, as it is 

 variously called throughout the country. 



XIU.—BMIABKS ON THE GENUS AULA- 

 CODISCUS Ehrb. 



By JOHN RATTRAY, M.A., B.Sc, F.R.S.E. 



{Read April 25, ISSS.) 



I RESPECTFULLY beg to submit the subjoined observations on 

 the genus Aulacodiscus Ehrh. to the memberv? of the Edin- 

 burgh Field Naturalists' Society, in the belief that not a few 

 of the working microscopists who have already found at once 

 pleasure and much material for reflection in the flinty micro- 

 organisms so abundant in every fresh- or salt-water pool, on the 



