47 



't3Cus, gradnally narrowing downwards from this line, is easily forced out by the 

 increasing nip applied to the thinner part of the wedge. Dehiscence for the 

 escape of spores occurs normally across the tip, in a plane perpendicular to the 

 ring, and extends neatly or quite down to it, so as to form a pair of lips, seemingly 

 never taking place along its line or in a paraUel plane. This method of opening 

 forms a marked difference to the plan observed in another section of the Genus, 

 where a special lid opens or parts for the rejection of the spores. The spores 

 measure "0006 @ •0007 x '00025 @ '00030. They are shaped somewhat like melon 

 seeds, and are all of very regular contour. They have never been found to exceed 

 C4 in each ascas, and, so well as they can be counted, usually approach this 

 number closely. They occupy throughout their whole period of development, 

 after a first early time, the whole interior of the ascus. 



Aseobolta Woolkopensis (section Ryparobius), occurs scattered or singly. It 



is very minute, and of a pure silvery whiteness, but at length it becomes dingy 

 and sodden in tint. The cups are from the first elevated on a thick unshapely 

 stem, exhibiting in section nearly the frustrum of a cone (sometimes, however 

 sub-cylindrical), studded with large semi-globular granules ; the cup portion being 

 covered thinly with somewhat stout hairs which surmount the margin. Older 

 plants expand in all directions, but the cups most, so as to spread somewhat be- 

 yond the line of the broad unsymmetrioal stem, the granular coating of which has 

 grown into semi-orbicular nodules, mainly of considerable size, but ever hyaline 

 and translucent. The hairs on the cup form a raised fringe to the margin of the 

 disc, and cover, but not so markedly, the lower portion as in the younger plant. 

 The Asci and Sporidia are very similar to those of Argenteus, but from an early 

 period the spores form a clcse oval cluster in the upper part of the Ascus. 



Ascobolus Weolhopensis has been found upon birds' dung mixed with fila- 

 ments of mucor, and is usually lifted up by them. 



The stem is formed internally as well as externally of epheiical cells, which 

 are largest below. In smaller specimens viewed under the microscope the cup 

 is quite transparent, and the Asci are readily seen in their position of growth. 

 There breadth and size necessarily limit their number in a plant so small, and 

 they may be counted with greater certainty than attends the counting of the 

 spores, contrasting thus with the innumerable number in Peziza, or the commoner 

 species of the Genus Turfuraceus, or Glaber, e.g. The position and appearance 

 of the ring is the same as in A. argenteus. The hairs are similar to those of 

 Argenteus, but less regular, and not more than half as long above the edge of the 

 cup, and extend in several tiers below. 



Both these plants have been so frequently met with bearing the described charac- 

 ters, as to warrant the beUef that they may be considered permanent forms, 

 having sufficiently well marked distinctions to conatitute separate species ; but 



