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RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



fruit-bodies which was larger than the first (about a foot in 

 diameter) and was situated in more open and much better lighted 

 ground (Fig. 35). This seemed to offer all the facilities requisite 

 for observation. I therefore threw myself at full length on the 

 ground, brought my eyes to within a foot of the fruit-bodies and, 

 in a horizontal direction and with a dark background, gazed intently 

 at the air on the lee side of the cluster. Within a few seconds I 



FIG. 34. Natural spore-deposits of Armillaria mellea. Cluster of fruit- 

 bodies on the ground in a wood, protected from wind by Bracken 

 ferns, etc. Some of the escaping spores have settled upon, and 

 have thereby whitened, the adjacent Bramble leaves. Photographed 

 in Wyre Forest by Somerville Hastings. About natural size. 



readily perceived the spores passing out between the fruit-bodies 

 and escaping from the cluster in the form of a delicate cloud which, 

 as it drifted away in the still air, resembled a fairy snow-storm or 

 curls and wreaths of the finest tobacco smoke. This observation 

 was at once verified by Mr. A. D. Cotton and Dr. Somerville Hastings 

 who happened to be with me. Both these gentlemen assured me 

 that they had no difficulty in seeing the spore-stream. 



Banker's Observations on Spore-discharge in Hydnum septen- 

 trionale. Hydnum septentrionale is a giant among the Hydneae and 

 rivals in size the very largest of the Polyporeae. It was originally 



