1905] BLAKESLEE—CONIDIA-BEARING FUNGI 167 
The origin of the fungus in the culture where it was found is 
uncertain. It is possible that it was introduced along with the fresh 
sphagnum, since its growth had no apparent connection with the 
dung. Fresh sphagnum was accordingly gathered at a later date 
from the same locality as before and used in unsterilized cultures, 
but failed to give further rise to Thamnocephalis. The improba- 
bility of finding the form again reconciles the writer to attempting to 
patch together the history of development from the somewhat scanty 
material at his disposal, which is especially lacking in young 
stages. It is believed, however, that in the main the process can be 
followed. 
Anastomoses are common between overlying hyphae (jig. 6), and 
it is apparently at these places of anastomosing that the rudiments of 
the fructifications are formed. The condition shown in fig. 7 has 
several representatives in the preparations saved, but the stages 
between it and that shown in fig. 8 are entirely lacking. A com- - 
parison of the fructification as seen in jig. 8 with a caricature of 
some giraffe-like creature will furnish terms convenient for discussion. 
Upwards of a hundred specimens near maturity have been examined 
and no deviations from the main type of fructification have been 
observed. A short narrow body supported by fore and hind legs 
bears on the dorsal side anteriorly a long neck supporting the fertile 
head of branches and posteriorly a short erect tail; while an umbili- 
cal cord connecting ventrally with the substratum probably serves 
as the chief channel for the influx of nutriment. It seems probable 
that in fig. 7 we have represented the umbilical cord in the process 
of giving rise by branching to the short body which in turn is further 
dividing. Under this assumption the first branching of the stalk 
arising from an anastomosis would give rise to the body, the second 
to the neck and tail and to the short extensions of the body, from 
which by a further branching the two pairs of legs are developed. 
The tail becomes septate and shrivels at a very early stage, and = 
none of the material at hand has it been found entirely filled with 
Protoplasm. In the specimen figured (fig. 8), however, and in one 
other the walls seem to be continuous around the end. This being 
the case, the tail arises from a branching of the same order as the 
neck, but becomes functionless; while the Jatter, perhaps because of 
