FUNGI. 235 



It is very difficult to see, as it is nearly the same colour 

 as the bark on which it is seated. It consists simply of 

 a thin skin containing a quantity of spores entangled in 

 a thread-work {capillitiuvi). When touched gently the 

 skin bursts and the spores fly out in a dust-cloud. Thus 



Fig. 29. — Slime Fungi, (1) Comatrlcha. (2) Zoospores in active condition. 

 (3) Craterium. (4) Trichia spores and capillitium. 



this species resembles the Puff-balls in the distribution 

 of its spores. In other cases the spore-cases or spores 

 are decidedly coloured, and often very conspicuous 

 indeed ; all shades of red and orange are common ; some 

 are purplish-blue, violet, bright yellow or pure white. 

 Not infrequently there are iridescent tints. This shows 

 that probably minute insects and other creatures, which 

 are generally very abundant in old wood, are intended 

 to carry the spores. The Capillitium, in which the 

 spores are contained, is intended to preserve them in its 

 interstices so as only to allow them to escape gradually. 



