PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 11 



cealed, till the sac in which it is contained is ruptured for the 

 dispersion of the spores. This division has received the com- 

 mon name of Gasteromycetes. The Puff-balls are the most ge- 

 nerally known example. Some of the most curious and typical 

 genera in this division do not occur in this country. 



Very few of my readers will probably have observed the 

 underground species which constitute the first British group 

 of this second division. They abound however in many parts 

 of England^ and may be detected like little tubers by simply 

 raking the surface. One of the largest, Melanogaster Broo- 

 meianvs is commonly sold as a substitute for Truffles in the 

 market at Bath, and may be familiar to some. They differ, 

 however, materially in structure from real Truffles, as will be 

 seen hereafter. If the stem of a Boletus were removed^ and 

 the pileus contracted into a ball, so as to conceal the hyme- 

 nium entirely, we should have a tolerable representation of one 

 of one of these tubers, especially if the tubes should become 

 complicated and sinuous and constantly cross one another. 

 Indeed, so much is this the case, that the beautiful orange- 

 coloured species, Hydnangium carotcecolor, was first taken for a 

 diseased Boletus, and on the contrary, a badly dried diseased 

 Boletus has been inserted in my own herbarium as an Hydnan- 

 gium.^ This first group is called Hypogm, from the subterra- 

 neous growth of the species which it comprises. 



A very curious group of Fungi is closely connected with 

 these, though the similarity is visible only in a young state ; 

 I mean the Phalli (Plate 20, fig. 3) . We have but few spe- 

 cies in this country ; but one is the pest of pleasure-grounds, 

 as at Kew, from its odious smell. In a young state they re- 

 semble eggs. The pileus (if it may so be called) is closely 



* We have no British representative of the Podaxliiel, whieh resemble in 

 many respects Boleti and Agarics. 



