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are chiefly from among those which grow upon decaying 
organic refuse. One interesting parasite exhibited is a 
fungus parasitic upon another fungus, which, in turn, is a 
parasite on the leaves of the common lilac. Another fungus 
shown lives chiefly within the cells of the underground parts 
of one of the orchids, yet it can scarcely be called a parasite, 
inasmuch as its presence in the tissues of the orchid is bene- 
ficial to the orchid as well as to itself. Of the fungi which 
live upon decaying refuse matter, Ascodolus is one of the 
more interesting among those selected for exhibition. In 
this, the spores, or propagating cells, are borne in groups of 
eight within transparent ellipsoidal sacs, and at maturity these 
sacs, each enclosing eight spores, are ejected with consider- 
able force. Under two microscopes are shown sections of 
lichens, illustrating their mode of reproduction and the fact 
that a lichen consists essentially of two organisms, a fungus 
and an alga, intimately associated and constituting what for 
many purposes may be looked upon as a single organism. 
Then follow specimens of the liverworts or scale-mosses, 
plants in which the differentiation of the vegetative body 
into stem and leaves becomes first clearly evident. One of 
these, a Hruldlanza, has a part of each leaf peculiarly modi- 
fied so as to form a reservoir for water. By aid of this 
device, the frullanias and their allies are able to thrive in 
drier situations than are in favor with most of the order to 
which they belong. Preparations are exhibited showing also 
the vegetative structure and methods of reproduction of the 
true mosses. Especially interesting is the ‘‘ peristome” of 
one of the mosses, which is a fringe of peculiar appendages 
surrounding the mouth of the little urn in which the minute 
dust-like spores are borne. These appendages move about 
ag a result of changing conditions of moisture and these 
mechanical movements assist in scattering the spores. A 
somewhat analogous device is found in connection with the 
spores of the equisetums or horse-tails, though the appendages 
in this case are attached to the spores. Following the slide 
illustrating this feature of the horse-tails is one showing the 
