255 
Probably the most interesting collections were among the cup- 
fungi. The number of such fungi which occur on damp soil, 
mossy banks and in boggy places were found to be especially 
abundant. Some of these were found to be parasitic on mosses 
in boggy places. Having collected and studied the cup-fungi in 
the middle West and East, I was impressed with the number of 
species common in the Rocky Mountains which were different 
from the common species collected in other places. This dif- 
ference would depend partly on the climate at high altitudes, 
where most of the collections were made, many of the species 
probably being arctic or subarctic species. It would also depend 
in part on the different kinds of higher plants which give rise to 
the substrata for fungi, and this again is probably indirectly 
governed by the climate. 
n addition to the fungi collected in the mountains, a number 
were collected on the plains about Denver. No actual count 
has been made, but as nearly as can be estimated from the 
various collections, about nine hundred specimens were brought 
home. While few of these specimens have yet been studied 
microscopically, I have every reason to believe that such study 
will furnish many points of interest to our knowledge of North 
American mycology, and possibly furnish some species new to 
science. 
I wish here to acknowledge my indebtedness to Professor 
Bethel and also to my brother, Mr. Arthur G. Seaver, both of 
whom did all in their power to make our stay in molec? both 
pleasant and profitable. 
FRED J. SEAVER, 
Director of the Laboratories. 
CONFERENCE NOTES. 
The first conference of this academic year met in the library 
on Wednesday, November 2, and in the absence of Dr. N 
Britton and Dr. W. A. Murrill, was presided over by Dr. Arthur 
Hollick. The following discussions were offered: 
