148 
carried for miles in the wind, and thus the appearance of Fungi 
in places previously void of them is easily accounted for. A few 
of the species of this group afford excellent articles of food. 
Morels are found in some parts of England in sufficient numbers 
to supply a great deal of food and katsup and are highly valued 
by French cooks for flavouring soups and made dishes. In 
Germany they were observed to grow particularly where wood 
had been burned, and the collection was so lucrative as to induce 
the peasantry to destroy the forests by fire, a practice which was 
at last stopped by the enacting of special laws. One or two 
species of Helvella, especially H. esculenta, are considered excellent 
food. H. crispa confers a fine flavour on soups, but I have been 
unable to render it tender by cooking. 
The above remarks may give some faint notion of the appear- 
ance and qualities of the section of Fungi to which the present 
notice is devoted, and may be the means of inducing those who 
have leisure, or want amusement, to give a portion of their time 
to the study, and may add interest to the dullest country walk, 
and increase their stock of health by furnishing a motive for 
active exertion. 
FAMILY V. ASCOMYCETES.* 
Fruit consisting of sporidia, mostly definite, contained in asci, 
springing from a naked or enclosed stratum of fructifying cells, 
and forming an hymenium or nucleus. 
ORDER 23. ELVELLACELT 
Hymenium at length more or less exposed. Substance, soft. 
GENUS 257. MORCHELLA.{ Dill. 
Receptacle clavate or pilcate, impervious in the centre, stipitate, 
covered with the hymenium, which is deeply folded and pitted, 
* From ascos a vessel, and muke a fungus. 
+ From Helvella, one of the genera belonging to the Order. 
+ From Morchel, the German name. 
