GENERAL SUMMARY 



The following is a summary of the more important results obtained 

 during the investigations 



PART I 



CHAPTER I. The spores of the Hymenomycetes are very adhesive when 

 freshly liberated. In consequence of this, special arrangements are neces- 

 sary for their liberation from the surfaces of gills and hymenial tubes, &c. 

 Successful liberation can take place only when the hymenium is so situated 

 that it occupies a vertical position or looks downwards at a greater or less 

 angle. 



Paraphyses are useful as spacial agents. They prevent the adhesive 

 spores of adjacent basidia from coming into contact during development 

 and discharge. The functions of cystidia are for the most part still quite 

 unknown. 



Occasionally certain species of Coprinus give rise to fruit-bodies which 

 are normal in size and form, but are either partially or completely sterile. 

 The basidia fail to produce spores. Fruit-body sterility of this kind was 

 observed in Coprinus fimetarius, var. cinereus, and also in an ephemeral, 

 coprophilous species, which has been called C. plicatiloides. 



Fruit-bodies are frequently visited by Springtails (Collembola), Mites 

 (Arachnida), and Fungus Gnats (Mycetophilidse). Their relations with 

 these animals stand in need of a detailed investigation. 



Direct sunlight injuriously affects the vitality of the dry spores of 

 Schizophyllum commune and of Dsedalea unicolor. Possibly the colouring 

 matters deposited in the walls of the spores of Coprini and of other 

 Hymenomycetes may serve a useful purpose by screening off certain of 

 the sun's rays from the living protoplasm. 



CHAPTER II. The disposal of the hymenium beneath a fruit-body on 

 gills, on spines, or in tubes, &c., instead of on a flat surface, is an economi- 

 cal arrangement which permits of a great increase in the number of spores 

 which a fruit-body of a given size may produce. Species of the genus 

 Fomes appear to be the most highly specialised in this respect. The 

 specific increase in the extent of the hymenium due to the presence of 

 gills and tubes was measured in a few cases. In the Mushroom it was 



