LICHENS 523 



world, and in some parts is eaten by wild animals, and is also 

 collected as fodder for domestic animals. It also, yields an orange 

 dye. 



Peltigera canina (PI. XXXIX, fig. 4). — A very widely distributed 

 species, common in this country, and ranging from lowland to 

 Alpine regions. It occurs in somewhat moist situations among 

 moss, on mossy trunks and stumps, on stones or on the ground. 

 When quite moist and growing it is often deep green in colour, but 

 in dry weather changes to a greyish green or brownish colour. 

 The under surface is spongy and whitish in colour, with a network 

 of brownish veins from which spring tufts of fibrils by which the 

 plant is attached to the substratum. The fruit consists of chestnut- 

 coloured lobes having the edges incurved, and springing from the 

 edge of the thallus or flattened portion of the plant. The plant 

 was at one time considered a specific agamst hydrophobia, hence 

 its specific name. 



Evernia prunastri (PI. XXXIX, fig. 3). — A very common lichen 

 on trees, rails, palings, etc., in lowland and subalpine districts. It 

 grows abundantly on fir trees, and is also common on plum and 

 other fruit trees. It can be readily known from other species some- 

 what similar in appearance by its pendulous or drooping habit and 

 the white colour of the under side of the branches. The upper 

 surface is pale glaucous or greyish green, and the general surface 

 is more or less lacunose or with depressions bounded by irregularly 

 branching ribs. It sometimes also grows on rocks and stones. 



Physcia payietina (PI. XL, fig. 5). — This is at the same time one 

 of our commonest and most beautiful of lichens, is yellow or orange- 

 coloured, more or less circular patches occurring on pebbles, rocks, 

 slates or tiles on the roofs of houses, also on wood and branches. 

 Old hawthorn bushes are often beautifully decorated. In moist, 

 shady localities it is often greenish or with a blue tinge. It fur- 

 nishes a yellow colouring matter, which in bygone times was exten- 

 sively used by the peasantry in various countries for dyeing woollen 

 goods. On account of the presence of a bitter substance it was at 

 one time recommended as a substitute for quinine. On dead 

 branches this lichen figures largely in cases of stuffed birds. 



Lecanoya taytayea. — Forming whitish or greyish white, much 

 cracked crusts, studded with the brownish apothecia. 



On rocks. Not uncommon. 



Lecidca contigna, var. calcayea (PI. XL, fig. 3). — Forming a 

 whitish, cracked crust, much cracked and studded with numerous 

 circular, black apothecia or fruiting bodies. 



On rocks. Common. 



Veyyucaria mauya (PI. XL, fig. 2).— Forming thin black patches 

 of very irregular shape and size on maritime rocks and pebbles. 

 This species is only met with in the neighbourhood of the sea. On 



