14 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



stitute the hyuiciiiiiiii, from which the name Hymeniales is de- 

 rived. 



Certain other cells are frequently found among the basidia, 

 which resemble them closely, but lack the sterigmata and 

 spores; these are sterile basidia, termed paraphyses. Still 

 other cells are found in the species of the Agaricacese, which 

 project beyond the basidia. These cells are usually large, in- 

 flated, and in some species contain coloring matter which gives 

 the gills characteristic colorings ; these are the cystidia. These 

 cystidia sometimes secrete moisture, which collects in drops 

 on their tips. 



The caps of the dififerent species have characteristics which 

 distinguish them from each other. Frequently the thick- 

 walled threads which constitute the outer surface of the cap 

 are filled with coloring matter which gives to species charac- 

 teristic colorings. The green and red tints of Riissnla, the 

 violet shades in many species of Cortinarius, and the distinctive 

 colors of the different species of Amanita are due to this fact. 

 These thick-walled, hyphal threads are termed the cortex, or 

 cuticle. In many species, these threads excrete viscid or slimy 

 substances which are peculiarities of species. In many species 

 of Cortinarius it is necessary to know the viscidity of the speci- 

 men before it can be placed in its proper group. In some cases 

 the outside, cortical layer of the hyphal threads ceases to grow 

 as the cap increases in size ; consequently it becomes torn into 

 fine hairs, fibers, or scales of various sizes. The abundant 

 scales of Pholiota squarrosoides arise from this source, as do 

 the scales and tomentum on many other species. 



The gills are the folds, or plates, on the lower surface of 

 the cap, which radiate in various ways from the stem to the 

 margin of the cap. 



For accurate determination of genera and species, the tech- 

 nical terms descriptive of the gills, employed by most scientific 

 writers, must be carefully studied and understood. These 

 terms are so frequently met with in text-books that detailed 

 definitions are hardly necessary in this report. 



Upon the character and shape of the stem depend many 

 of the distinguishing features in the identification of species. 



In the larger number of Agarics, the stem is situated in the 



