172 



KNOWLEDGE, 



f August. 1U02. 



so that the significance of the analogous cliavacters is 

 in many cases still problematical. Odd roseiiibl.-inccs lo 

 various objects, which can only bo rcgardcil a.s accidental 

 coincidences, are presented by .a number of fungi. There 

 is the Jew's-ear fungus, which grows on stumps of the 

 elder, and is so named from its unmistakable likeness 

 to a human ear. The Geasters are curiously like atar- 



Fig. Ifi.— Geasters 



fish ; Aseroe has an extraordinary resemblance both in 

 form and colour to a searanemone ; c<iually remarkable 

 is the likeness to a bird's nest seen in species of Cruci- 

 buluni, Cyathus and Nidularia. Though most of these 

 are too small to impose on one the resemblance is 

 singvilarly exact, and a large specimen might almost pass 



Fig. 17.— Bird's-nest Fungi. 1, Crucibuhim. 2, Nidularia. 

 3 and 4, Cyathu.s. 



for the nest of some small bird, the eggs being admirably 

 represented by the little oval fruits of the fungus. 



Even in such cases we must not too rashly conclude 

 that the resemblance confers no advantage. The 

 existence of attractive characters in so many fungi points 

 to the conclusion that the same principles are in 

 operation among them as among flowering plants. 

 Numerous facts indicate a tendency in fungi to assume 

 a guiso which helps either to protect the plant or to 

 promote the fertilisation, germination or dispersion of 

 its spores. If. as some mycologist.^ believe, spores benefit 

 through being swallowed by animals, it is easy to under- 

 stand how a fungus might profit by bcin<: mistaken 

 even for a bird's nest containing eggs. 



A similar explanation readily suggests itself of the 

 likenesses seen in Tremelln moriformix and Liret? 

 fragiformis; as their names indicate the fonncr 

 resembles a mulberry, the latter a ripe strawberry. In his 

 paper on "Mimicry in Fungi." Dr. Plowright (Grevillea, 

 Vol. X.) instances species which pioson) a likeness to 

 the ear of a rabbit or hare, to the liver, brains and 



entrails of animals, to honeycomb, to tangled horse hair, 

 and in a number of others te the excrement of various 

 animals. 



Most toadstools appear to be coloured in strict 

 accordance with the principle of the protective 

 rosomblanco. Even for an experienced observer it is 

 impossible to distinguish a fading leaf as it lies in the 

 gi-ass in certain positions from the yellow pileus of an 

 agaric. Protective colouring is also well seen among 

 the Pezizas, many of which are clad in obscure tints. 

 Dr. M. C. Cooke (Grevillea, Vol. IX.) has described 

 several species which gi'ow on charcoal or on charred 

 gi-ound and ai'e easily overlooke<l on account of their 

 resemblance to the blackened soil. One agaric grows on 

 clay, which it closely resembles in colour, several grow 

 among dead pine leaves and are easily mistaken for old 

 pine-cones. Other instances are Aff. sorfliilus on dung- 

 hills, Aff. fusijies on rotten wood, Afj. vtrtirui/is among 

 dead bracken, species of Mycena among dead leaves and 

 twigs, and Paxillus on sawdust. One or two agarics 

 grow among grass and have a green colour corresponding 

 to their environment. The conical caps of Af/. 

 hypnorum resemble the calyptra of the mosses among 

 which they grow, while most of the brighter coloured 

 agarics harmonize very well with the bright tints of 

 freshly fallen autumnal leaves. In striking contrast to 

 the gay tints of the fly agaric is the snowy whiteness 

 of its near ally Amanita nivalis, an alpine fungus grow- 

 ing on our loftiest mountains. 



Besides the scarlet amanita mimicked as we have seen 

 by Balanophora, other attractively coloured fungi are 



Fig. 18.— The Scarlet Amanita. 



the red Peziza cup, Cordiceps and Cortinarius, the coral- 

 like Aiithina, the crimson Russula, the amethyst agaric 

 ,i.nd Clavaria, the violet Marasmiiis, tlie purple Russula, 

 the green Boletus, several bright yellow agarics and the 

 black Geoglossum. A number of fungi are phosphor- 

 escent; some tropical species light up the jungle at 

 night; others occur in coal mines. Several Polvpori 

 growing on dead wood become luminous in the dark. 



The odoui-s of fungi ai'e veiy vai-ied. Clathius and 

 Phallus are offensive and attract swarms of blow-flies, 

 Lactarius and Hydnum, on the other hand, are sweetly 

 scent«d like the flowei-s of Melilotus. Among the odoui-s 

 of fungi enumerated by Dr. Plowright arc those of 

 aniseed, mint, peppermint, gai-lic, horee-radish, cucum- 

 ber, ripe apricots, rotting pears, rancid h-^rring, Russia 

 leather, gas tar, prussic acid, nitric acid and cacodylc. 

 Like the hemlock, Agnricus incanux has the smell of 

 mice, two species of Lactarius have the odour of the 



