160 BETTS : THE FUNGI OF THE BEE-HIVE. 
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 
Of the foregoing twelve species, Pericyslis alvei is probably a 
bee-hive fungus in the strict sense. This conclusion seems warranted 
by the frequency of its occurrence in hives, taken in conjunction with 
the fact that it has not been observed elsewhere ; and is confirmed by 
what is known as to its requirements in the way of temperature and 
pabulum (4). 
Of the others, Oospora favorum is very probably also confined 
to bee-hives; it is not a common species. Gymnoascus sctosus seems 
to be adapted to life in the hive, judging by its luxuriant growth in 
dead stocks, and by its unwillingness to grow on artificial media. It 
has been previously recorded from the nests of other Hymenoptera 
(8, p. 571). Aspergillus nidulans was originally found by Eidam on 
a humble-bee’s nest; it is one of the less common of the bee-hive 
fungi, however, and has only once been observed to grow luxuriantly 
on amouldy comb, being generally found in but small quantity, when 
present at all. It is probably absent from healthy stocks. 
Mucor erectus is chiefly, if not exclusively, found on dead bees. 
It is probably not able to flourish on the combs. 
Sordaria fimicola and Gymnoascus ruber are coprophilous; the 
former, as has been stated, may very likely be carried into the hive 
by bees visiting stagnant water. G. ruber has only once been 
observed; its spores were probably adhering to some of the bees of 
the cluster, and developed on their bodies after death. 
Nothing is known as to the probable original source of Eremas- 
cus fertilis. Stoppel found it on paper which had been soaked in rum 
and used to cover some apple and currant jelly pots, and it seems 
capable of normal growth on various media; hence can hardly be 
considered specially a bee-hive fungus. 
Aspergillus glaucus and Penicillium crustacewm are ubiquitous, 
and their presence in the hive needs no explanation. It is possible 
that the same considerations may to some extent apply to the twe 
species of Citromyces. 
In conclusion, my thanks are due to Dr. Rendle for permission 
to use the library at the Cryptogamic Herbarium, British Museum; 
to Miss A. Lorrain Smith for her unfailing kindness in advising me 
on systematic and other points; and to Mr. J. Ramsbottom for much 
kind assistance in naming the fungi. I also desire to thank Mr. T. 
Ww. Cowan for valuable information as to previous work on the bee- 
hive fungi, and for the loan of several periodicals cited in this paper. 
The figures illustrating this paper were drawn from fresh material 
with the aid of a camera lucida, and the magnification is 
approximately x 1,400 except where otherwise stated. 
