258 



Mycological Bulletin Nos. 65 and 66 



[Vol. IV 



noon the various fungi collected, together with the specimen of Bulgaria, 

 were placed for the remainder of the day upon a hot, dry roof, exposed 

 to the sun. In the evening the fungi were placed upon a wire rack 

 alx3ve the kitchen stove. About nine o'clock the next morning, I was 

 examining the £)u!garia, when to my surprise it emitted a considerable 

 cloud of spores. Curious as to the factors inducing such a discharge, 

 I soon found that upon breathing gently upon the spore-bearing surface 

 a discharge would take place after an interval of about two to three 

 seconds. Experimenting further I found that a discharge could also be 

 induced by holding the fungus in the bright, warm sunshine for a few 

 minutes, and then quickly placing it in the cool shade for two or three 

 seconds. 



After probably twenty minutes of experimenting, during which time 

 the Bulgaria had discharged a dozen or more clouds of spores, I was un- 

 able to bring about any further results, the spores apparently being 

 exhausted. 



The inferences to be drawn from the behavior of this particular 

 specimen seem to be that ; — 



The factor inducing spore discharge is alternate expansion and con- 

 traction of the spore-bearing surface, due to varying degrees of heat, 

 and that a varying moisture content can, at least, be of but secondary 

 importance. Also, Bulgaria riifa is, at least under certain conditions, 

 capable of discharging puffs of spores, not only when first touched, but 

 successively at intervals, for some time after. 

 Carnegie Museum. August 2, 1906. 



Fig. 200. Ma-kas'-mi-us iiK-LEc'rAN.s. 'I'liis cliaTiniiiR plant was collected in the 

 woods at Sngar Grove, Ohio, by K. \. Viiuhk, .Inly 2S, ^'.)W^. It is a n.-.v 

 species wliicR I'rof. Morgan has nctntly disi-rilx d. 



