128 THE BELL-SHAPED NIDULARIA. 



Icevis) is much less so. I do not mention them on 

 account of their rarity, but to notice the singular 

 size of the seeds of this genus. The principle, by 

 which nearly the whole of the fungi are continued, 

 is in most instances obscure. A dust, considered 

 as seminal, is observable in some of the genera ; 

 in others, even this is imperceptible ; but in the 

 nidularia, the actual seeds, for they are riot cap- 

 sules, are visible at the bottom of the bell- shaped 

 receptacle, of the size of a turnip seed, or of a large, 

 flattened pin's head, loose, but attached by a fila- 

 ment, which in the striated species (nidularia striata) 

 in moist weather, I have drawn out to nearly three 

 inches in length. This thread appears designed to 

 secure the vegetation of the seed, by affording it the 

 power of deriving nutriment from the parent plant, 

 during the period it is exerting its strength to vege- 

 tate in the earth. Heavy rains, I apprehend, fill 

 the bells, and float out the seeds in the spring months, 

 the filaments then stretching to their full extent. In 

 severe weather we often find these bells emptied of 

 their contents, and from observing the excrement of 

 mice about the places of their growth, I conclude 

 they are eaten by these creatures. The long 

 mandibles of the little shrew are well fitted for 

 this operation. I have never found the plant in 

 such quantities as to yield them any considerable 

 supply ; yet it is remarkable, that the seeds of 

 one genus only, out of such a numerous class, 

 should be so visible, and of such a size, as to 

 become an article of food to an animal like a 

 mouse. 



