Il6 THE WOODLANDS. 



three-eighths of an inch in diameter, pale grey, almost 

 white within, and containing three or four little 

 roundish bodies clustered in the centre, like eggs in 

 a bird's-nest. It has been called the " Bird's-nest 

 Fungus " l from this resemblance. Each 

 cup is little more than half an inch high, 

 narrowed towards the bottom, and on the 

 outside dark brown, covered with shaggy 

 hair. More closely examined, it will be 

 noticed that the little egg-like bodies are 

 BIRD'S-NEST vei T fi rm ly fixed in the nest, each one 

 FUNGUS, being attached on the under-side by a 

 thin elastic thread. At the first the mouth 

 of the cups is closed, but as they mature so they 

 expand, and assume the bird's-nest appearance. 

 Another species, equally common on dead twigs 

 (Crudbulum vulgare\ is smaller, and of a pale olive 

 colour. 



Searching for one thing may lead to the finding 

 of another, and instead of the above, some little cups 

 of quite another character may be found. As there 

 are so many species, some not more than the one- 

 tenth of an inch in diameter, and others three or four 

 inches, with all intermediate sizes, it is difficult tc 

 predict what particular one may be discovered. These 

 are called by the general name of Peziza, and ma> 

 be found, on the ground, amongst moss, upon dead 

 wood, rotten branches, old bark, and even very much 

 smaller ones on dead leaves and the dead stems ol 

 herbs and grasses. There is one very beautiful 

 species, with cups spreading from one to two or three 

 1 Cyathus striatus. 



