ever, it is a larger plant with a thicker peridium. It has more the 

 appearance of being a small specimen of Calvatia gigantea. A small 

 specimen is well shown in Cooke's Handbook (fig. 118), excepting 

 the spores which are inaccurately shown with a pedicel. The spores 

 of the type are almost smooth. I can detect only the faintest indica- 

 tion of asperity with my highest power. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 

 Australia, From D. McAlpine two collections, near Dimboola, by 1" 



M. Reader. 



THE GENUS ARACHNION: From the vast extent of terri- 

 tory of Australia all that was known of the genus Arachnion was a 

 single specimen, collected more than sixty years ago by Drummond. 

 From Prof. McAlpine we have received an additional specimen of 

 this species, and also a widely different species. 



ARACHNION ALBUM (Plates 16 and 73): When we wrote 

 our pamphlet we considered this under the name given to the Aus- 

 tralian plant by Berkeley, viz: Arachnion Drummondii, but on a close 

 comparison of the Australian plant with the well-known species of 

 America, Arachnion album, we are unable to detect any difference 

 whatever. The spores may be a shade larger, but not enough to 

 measure, and as to pedicels they are frequently present in the Amer- 

 ican plant. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Australia, Prof. MoAlpiue. (We have the plant also in our collection, 

 one collection from Brazil, one from Ecuador and several from the United 



States.) 



ARACHNION RUFUM (Fig. 93): 

 Peridium dark reddish- 

 brown, with a rough sur- 

 face and (in these speci- 

 mens) ovate in shape with 

 an acute point. Gleba 

 brown, composed of little, 

 irregular peridioles, like 

 grains of sand. Peridioles 

 almost naked, consisting Fig- 93. 

 of clusters of spores, but not enclosed in 

 a loose web as in the previous species. 

 The spores are probably enclosed in little 

 cells in the young state, but if so, in this 

 species the walls of the peridioles are evi- Fig. 93. 



dently absorbed in the process of deliquescence. Spores globose, 

 smooth, 5-6 mic. 



This is much the largest species known, with a peridium not so 

 thin and fragile as in other species, but more tough and dehiscing 

 by a lacerated opening. It differs widely from Arachnion album, 

 not only m general appearance, but in the peridioles which are not 

 11 form in size and have hyphae threads, very scantily. 

 250 



