172 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUTNI 



Clavaria pyxidata Pers. 



This clavaria is sometimes nearly white, specially in its upper branches. 

 Its stems and branches are tough and solid and it is acrid or hot and 

 peppery to the taste. 



Hirneola auricula-judae (Z.) Berk. 

 This species is common in the Adirondacks on dead wood of spruce 

 and balsam fir. An abortive form sometimes occurs which forms an 

 irregular gyrose plicate mass 1-2 inches thick. 



Ithyphallus ravenelii {B. er' C.) Fisch, 

 The thin membranaceous veil sometimes adheres in fragments or 

 bands to the stem and then is wholly or partly absent from its usual 

 place at the top of the stem. Such specimens, however, need not be 

 confused with I. impudicus, since the more even surface of the 

 denuded pileus is a good distinguishing character. 



Massospora cicadina Pk. 



Grasshoppers are sometimes infested and killed by this parasitic 

 ungus. Examples were collected at Mannsville, Jefferson co., by 

 George Staplin. The spores in these examples are all large, measuring 

 .OCT 5-. 002 of an inch broad. This fungus is the friend of man, since it 

 attacks and destroys insects that are injurious to the plants he cultivates 

 and uses. It would be interesting to trace its life history and ascertain 

 how and when it gains access to its host. Since we now know that it 

 attacks grasshoppers, it may possibly be more easy to do this. 



Tremella mycetophila Pk. 



Fine specimens of this parasitic fungus were found at Floodwood. 

 The pileus of the host plant, Collybia dryophila, is sometimes 

 completely covered and concealed by it. It departs somewhat from the 

 character of a genuine species of Tremella in the structure of its 

 basidia. 



