1892. | Briefer Articles. 381 
tudimentary as in the plants collected by Palmer. So that practically 
there remain only two prominent points of distinction between Fu- 
haria Californica and Entosthodon Bolanderi: the /d, being convex 
inthe former and mamillate in the latter; and the costa, passing to 
the apex in the former, and only to about the middle in the latter. 
: The color of the peristome, described as “ pale, whitish, granulose,”’ 
isfound in both the specimens of Bolander and those recently col- 
lected by Palmer, to be in fact red, granulose, longitudinally striate, and 
distinctly articulate. This discrepancy is quite likely due to the dif- 
ference in maturity of the material examined. The calyptra, referred 
toin a note under the species in the Manual of N. A. Mosses as “five 
lobed at base and rather mitrate,” is in Dr. Palmer’s material usually 
split open down one side, and at base is more often three or four 
lobed, this lobing being rather irregular. The calyptra is thus on the 
whole asin Funaria. This, and especially the presence of an inner 
Peristome, makes necessary the transfer of this species of Entosthodon 
to Funaria; it should be called Funaria Bolanderi (Lesq.).—Joun M. 
Houzincrr, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DA 
4 probable new category of carnivorous plants.— The fact that 
members of the genus Polyporus are in the habit of catching and 
digesting small insects is not generally known. At least after a care- 
fal examination of such literature as happens to be at hand, the writer 
unable to discover any reference to what is a distinct and curious 
: Phenomenon in the life history of some of these large and interesting 
et In Polyporus applanatus the method of catching and devour- 
_-Wng the insects has been studied by me, and a brief description may 
a ' place at the present time. Whether or not the habit alluded to 
‘i el been described by other students I cannot yet be sure, but it 1s 
es “ently unknown in American writings to permit of attention in 
is Pages, 
= Polyporus applanatus (Pers.) Wallr. is common arou 
“Snka, where it occurs on its ordinary hosts, and also 
a i considerable abundance. The large size — one 
nd Lake Minne- 
on Zilia Amert- 
-third of a me- 
: ey the under surface of the plant, where they 
oe ng feed upon the soft substance of the hyme 
io age gnats, together with larger flies, may be fou 
nophore. osqui- 
M 
nd upon the under 
