12 OUTLINES or BRITISH FUNGOLOGY. 



confined Avithin a tliick volva, the inner substance of Avhich is 

 gelatinous, and in tliis state a distinct hymcninm is visible, 

 constructed as in the preceding group. Soon however the 

 volva bursts, and the hymenium dissolves into a loathsome, 

 fetid mass, Avhich is eagerly devoured by flies. Clatkrus 

 cancellatus, one of the most beautiful of Fungi, lias been de- 

 tected in the south of England and Ireland. Its beauty how- 

 ever scarcely compeusates for its detestable smell. Some of 

 the foreign species of this group when fresh are exquisitely 

 beautiful, but all, I believe, partake more or less of the dis- 

 gusting odom-. These Fungi are called collectively Phalloidei, 

 from the typical genus Phallus. 



Every one is acquainted ^vith the Puff'-balls, which by means 

 of the curious but very rare genus Batarrea, are connected 

 with the Phalli. When young their hymenium resembles the 

 crumb of bread ; but they soon lose their primitive condition, 

 and pass from a cellular to a semi-liquid state, and then to 

 the chisty condition which is known to every child. The 

 common Puff-balls are occasionally interesting objects, from 

 the beautiful warts or prickles with which they are adorned, 

 but they are far exceeded in interest by the starry Puff-balls, 

 Geaster (Plate 20, fig. 4), which from their comparative 

 rarity are little known to general observers. They however 

 sometimes occur in considerable abundance, and never, fail to 

 excite the admiration of all lovers of beautiful forms. There 

 is another genus, Sclei'oderma (Plate 15, fig. 4), which can 

 scarcely have failed to attract notice from the frequency of 

 one onion-shaped species on lawns. The species are darker 

 in colour than the Puff-balls, and differ in their thicker, more 

 persistent coat [pei'idium) , and compact mass of spores. The 

 subdivision is named Trichogastres, from the hairs or threads 

 which in most cases accompany the spores. 



