178 THE NORTH AMERICAN SLIME-MOULDS 



not present the type usually seen in this country, nor even in Europe 

 if we may judge from later illustrations. 



The species with us has received various names, but so far as can 

 be determined, all apply to the same thing, and comparison of speci- 

 mens from Mr. Ellis with those from Europe show the correctness of 

 the nomenclature here adopted. 



Rare, but widely distributed ; across the continent. 



7. COMATRICHA SUKSDORFII Ell. ^ Everh. 



Plate XI., Figs. 9, 10, 11. 



1882. Stemonitis suksdorfii Ell. & Everh., Bull. Washb. Coll., Vol. I., p. 5. 

 1892. Stemonitis suksdorfii Ell. & Everh., Mass., Mon., p. 76. 



Sporangia scattered in small tufts or gregarious, cylindric, obtuse 

 at both ends, sometimes widened above, black, 2-6 mm., stipitate; 

 stipe jet-black, shining, even, about one-half the total height; hypo- 

 thallus not continuous, dark brown ; columella black, rather slender, 

 terminating in two or more large branches just below the apex; capil- 

 litium exceedingly dense, dark fuscous or black, the flexuous threads 

 anastomosing in a close network, with abundant free pallid extremi- 

 ties ; spores in mass, blue-black, by transmitted light fuscous or dark 

 violaceous-brown, minutely warted, 10-12 /x. 



Easily recognizable at sight by its sooty color. Entirely unlike any 

 of the preceding. The type of the capillitium is that of C. pulchella, 

 but it is very much more dense and entirely different in color. The 

 sporangia are often widened above, and fairly truncate; the total 

 height about 6 mm. Found on the bark of fallen twigs of Abies, 

 Larix, etc. Distributed by Ell. & Everh. under this name as an 

 exsiccata. The evanescent peridium is colorless ; when free, white or 

 silvery. 



8. COMATRICHA NIGRA (Pers.) Schroeter. 



Plate XI, Figs. 1, 2, 3. 



1791. Stemonitis nigra Pers., Gmel., Syst. Nat., p. 1467. 



1801. Stemonitis ovata, van nigra Pers., Syn., p. 189. 



1863. Stemonitis friesiana DeBy., Rab. Eur. Fung., No. 568. 



1875. Comatricha friesiana (DeBy.) Rost., Man., p. 200. 



