CLASSIFICATION 481 



The fungus frequently attains to the size of a hen's egg before 

 bursting through the volva, and is often a subject of curiosity and 

 wonder to the uninitiated ; but if it is cut through the centre from 

 top to bottom its whole structure is revealed. When found in the 

 unexpanded or " egg " stage, if kept in a damp box until next day, 

 it will be found fully expanded. It is, however, advisable to open 

 the box in the open air, as the abominable stench is almost over- 

 powering. The best course, perhaps, is to place the " egg " in a 

 tall bottle and cork it up ; then the mature fungus can be examined 

 without experiencing any unpleasant surprise. 



The fungus often grows among loose humus, and the pure white, 

 cord-like mycelium, which is tough, can often be followed for yards, 

 spreading in all directions and bearing at intervals plants varying 

 in size from a pea to that of the full-sized " egg " ready for ex- 

 pansion. The greenish gluten in which the spores are immersed is 

 very sweet to the taste, and is much relished by blue-bottles and 

 other flies, who may usually be seen in numbers on and hovering 

 round the pileus. The gluten serves as food for the flies, who in 

 turn deposit the spores here and there, and thus aid in the diffusion 

 of the fungus. The object of the strong smell is to indicate to 

 insects the whereabouts of the fungus. 



var. imperialis. — Larger than the type. Volva pink ; apical pore 

 with a distinct margin. 



This beautiful variety has once been collected in this country 

 at a Y.N.U. Fungus Foray in Yorkshire. 



MUTINUS 



Universal volva egg-shaped before expansion, white, |-f in. 

 long, remaining after its rupture as a somewhat torn volva, sheath- 

 ing the base of the elongated, cellular, hollow receptacle ; pileus 

 |-| in. long, closely attached to the upper portion of the receptacle, 

 surface wrinkled. 



Differs from Ithyphallus in the pileus being adnate or grown 

 to the receptacle throughout its length. 



M. caninus (PI. XXXVI, fig. 3) (dogs' stinkhorn). — Unexpanded 

 volva egg-shaped, somewhat elastic ; receptacle cylindric-fusiform, 

 hollow, wall with a single row of cavities, pitted externally, white 

 or more or less suffused with rose-colour, 3-4 in. high ; pileus 4-| in. 

 long, subacute, wrinkled, red, at first covered with olive-green 

 gluten containing the very minute spores. 



Distinguished from Ithyphallus impudiciis by its much smaller 

 size and adnate pileus. It is sometimes quite devoid of smell, 

 at others with a slight odour, but never anything ajiproaching the 

 abominable smell of the stinkhorn. 



In woods and bushy places. 



