MOUNTING OF MOSSES FOR THE MICROSCOPE, 237 
the above rich in minute fungi, but the thousands of leaves spread 
about under his feet are almost all more or less covered with 
minute cryptograms. I have rambled miles amongst such scenes 
of dead vegetation, where I have found an infinity of life springing 
up from the ashes of the dead. Organisms, wonderful in their 
structure, rich in colour, and when seen under the lens of a good 
microscope, as beautiful as the loved flowers of the spring. The 
admirer of the common wild flowers finds his special botanical 
enjoyment gone as winter approaches, but it is not so with the 
microscopist ; for him nature provides a perpetual feast. No frost 
or storm can deprive him of his plants. ‘The enjoyment he has 
when he meets with them is untold, and in due time they are 
placed in his cabinet, and become things of beauty for ever. 
I have once met with Xexodochus carbonarius as late as October, 
as also various members of the same genus; indeed, there are a 
goodly number of leaf-fungi still to be found. Sheltered warm 
corners amongst rocks are likely places to find late specimens of 
micro-fungi ; indeed, the thoughtful student will not overlook such 
promising localities. I abstain from giving a technical description 
of the fungi I have referred to, as I believe the small space I can 
occupy is better employed in indicating to the student what to look 
for, and the most likely places to find what he wants. Structure is 
best understood by personal examination with a microscope. 
I will close this paper by a reference to the Diachzea. The one 
species—for there is but one—belongs to the Myxogastres, and 
may be found when the special conditions exist all the year round. 
It is not so common as the other fungi I have spoken of. It grows 
in small tufts aggregated, and about the size of the Arcyria, but 
there is no beauty of colour to attract the eye, for it is perfectly 
black. The structure of the fungus is very beautiful, and very 
similar to the structure to the Arcyria. I have found this fungus 
but once, and that was some years ago, in a cucumber frame, upon 
a bit of very rotten wood. ‘The fungus I am inclined to think is 
not very rare, but its blackness and small size prevent its being 
seen. THOMAS BRITTAIN, 
THE MOUNTING OF MOSSES FOR THE 
MECKOSCORES 
LL who have seen the slides put up by Captain P. G. Cunliffe 
of the Manchester Cryptogamic Society, will admit that they 
are beautiful specimens of manipulative skill in the art of mounting 
mosses. 
* A paper read before the Manchester Microscopical Society, Sept. Ist, 1881. 
