14 Mycologiiiil Bulletin No. 86 [Vol. Yl 



"From the evidence obtained it is quite clear that the poison- 

 ing was due to the deadly Amanita, and it will be noticed that 

 the symptoms exhibited were in close agreen-jent with those 

 ascribed to phalliii poisoning 1)\- Chestnut, although Dr. Rice 

 characterized the intestinal discharges as "serous" and not as- 

 suming the "rice-water" condition, and neither extreme saliva- 

 tion nor decided su])pression of the urine was noticed. 



"In connection with the supposed action of phalliii in decom- 

 posing the blood cori)uscles and in bringing about the escape of 

 the blood serum from the system by way of the alimentary canal, 

 it may be mentioned as a partial confirmation that the undertaker 

 experienced consideraljle trouble in preparing the corpse for 

 burial. — less than half the usual amount of blood could be ex- 

 tracted, — thus indicating a depletion of blood supply before death 

 occurred." — ( ). E. Jennings, in Journal of Myco!o!::;y. 



THE PEAR-FORM PUFF-BALL 



G. D. SMITH, AKRON, OHIO. 



The pear-form pufi:'-ball belongs to the genus Lycopcrdon, 

 which may be characterized by having a flaccid peridium which 

 opens into a small, definite mouth at the top. 



It has a capillitium of long-branched and intertwining 

 threads. The spores are usually globose. They may or may not 

 have a sterile base. 



The cortex is sometimes smooth, but is usually covered with 

 scales or spines. None of this genus are very large. The pear- 

 form puff-ball — Lycopcrdon pyriforinc — is sometimes shaped like 

 a pear, but more often it is globose, or where several are crowded 

 together, it is tiat, contorted, and quite irregular. 



It grows on logs, stumps and even on the ground. Quite 

 frequentl}^ il oocm-s in large clusters, or we may occasionally 

 see it covering almost tlie entire sin^face of a decaying log. I 

 have seen more tlian a liushel on one log. 



The surface, when }oung, is nearl\ \\hil(.>, Init soon becomes 

 covered with brownish scales. It is sui)i)lied with an abundance 

 of white mycelial threads that usuall\- stick to it when inilled 

 from the log on which it grows. 



It is most abundant in the months of .September and ()ct(»l)er, 

 but I have found it in Jidy and iVugust. The October crop is 

 usually the best for eating, as it does not begin to decay as 

 quickly as in warm weather. It comi^ares favorably in llayor 

 with the other h'coperdons and, in its ])rime, it certainly ranks 

 close to tlu' uem itulT-ball in beantx. 



