PRELIMINAKY OliSIilRVATlONS. 19 



species are distinguished from Clavaria by their haying their 

 fruit contained in perithecia, which are very conspicuous be- 

 neath the cuticle when the plant is divided. 



A very distinct division contains some of the productions 

 which are commonly known under the name of IMildew. These 

 in a young state are white and mealy, and are known as Hop 

 Mildew, Rose Mildew, etc. ; but as they grow, they form first 

 yellow, then black, speek-like sacs, which contain a different 

 form of fruit. These sacs are attached to abundant filaments, and 

 therefore approach somewhat in appearance to INIoulds. They 

 are called Pc'risporiacei, from the typical genus Perisporium. 



There is yet another small group, of which one genus con- 

 sists of Fungi Avhich grow principally on animal substances, as 

 decaying hoofs, horns, feathers, etc. These, however, are not 

 very common, and are therefore little known. The group is 

 called Onygenei, a name alluding to the growth of one of the 

 species on hoofs of animals. 



We have still another set of productions which rank amongst 

 Fungi, some of which are popularly known. They are the 

 Sporangium-bearing Fungi noticed above, p. 17. They consist 

 of two groups only, the first of which comprises the dark felt- 

 like Fungi, which run over the leaves of living trees. They arc 

 uncommon in Great Britain, and it is probable that they are, 

 in general, conditions of other Fungi. They are called Anten- 

 nariei, from the threads of some of them when magnified re- 

 sembling the antennse of beetles. The other contains those 

 Moulds which have distinct sacs on their threads, and not 

 naked spores. The common INIoulds of paste and of rotting 

 pears are well-known instances. The finest British example 

 is Mucor nitens, which grows on fatty substances, and attains 

 a considerable size. Most of the species, however, are merely 

 microscopic objects. 



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