890. | FAIRMAN—FUNGI OF WESTERN NEW YORK. 47 
Among the Hydnez we have only the very common genera Hydnum, 
Irpex, and Grandinia. 
The Thelephorei (4th family) are also well represented by species 
-of Corticium, Stereum and other genera. We have the rare Corticium 
lividoceruleum, Karst, new to the state, and, probably to the country, 
which agrees with an authentic specimen from Karsten, and a new 
species, the Corticium rhodellum, Peck, of a beautiful rose color. 
The Clavariz are only sparingly represented by a few common 
forms. 
The peculiar gelatinous family Tremellini is represented by species 
-of Tremella, Exidia and Dacrymyces, which are commonly found on 
‘moist hemlock stumps. 
The next order of fungi the Gasteromycetes or puff-balls is known 
-only by a few common puff-balls, one member of the offensive Phalloids 
and Widularia pulvinata, Schw, a species rarely occurring in the state. 
The order Phycomycetes is represented by a number of “ blights ”’ 
and “moulds.’’ In wet seasons the blights are a source of great 
annoyance from the wide spread damage done to field and garden 
-crops. It is only necessary to mention the Peronospora viticola or grape 
blight, and the Peronospora gangliformis, DeBy, the lettuce blight, to 
prove this 
The Myxomycetes or slime moulds, a group of remarkable organ- 
isms, which have occupied debatable positions in various systems of 
classification, are represented by 17 species. During the vegetative 
portion of their life history these organisms consist of naked masses of 
protoplasm, the so-called plasmodia, variously colored, and possessing 
the power of changing their forms and places, and hence are said to be 
motile. Under proper conditions, this protoplasmic vegetative state 
~ceases, and a resting state is entered upon, with the formation of spores 
in spore cases, or sporangia, which assume resemblances to puff-balls, 
or other fungi. They have always been objects of great interest not 
-only from their curious life history, but also from the delicacy of their 
fructification and the beauty of their spores and threads, when investi- 
gated by the microscope. We have some of the rare forms of this 
order, as well as the common genera Fuligo, Trichia and Arcyria. We 
have also one new species a Didymium (Didymium Fairmani, Sacc.) found 
growing on the lower surfaces of leaves of Smilacina bifolia, which will 
be noticed later on. 
Taking up for our next consideration the rusts and smuts we find 
the list includes 51 species. The genera represented are -£cidium, 
Puccinia, Uromyces, Phragmidium, Melampsora, Coleosporium, Roestelia 
