THE STORY OF THE FUNGI i35 



notice of the ordinary observer. Of these 

 some of the members of the sub-order Dis- 

 comycetes are perhaps the most striking. The 

 different species of Elf Cup [Peziza) are almost 

 certain to be met with in one form or another. 

 A famihar species is the Bladder Elf Cup [P. 

 vesiculosa), which in the summer and autumn 

 is often found on rotting leaves. The colour 

 of this fungus is usually of a pale brown, 

 whilst in shape it resembles a little bowl. 

 A very charming Elf Cup is Peziza coccinea, 

 which is of a lovely carmine colour. This 

 is not uncommon in country districts in the 

 spring, and is perhaps most frequent in the 

 west of England. Many people have come 

 across the edible Morels. Morchella esadenta is 

 the common form, and this is very distinc- 

 tive on account of the many-sided pits with 

 which the plant is covered. Included in the 

 sub-order under consideration is the singular 

 Caterpillar Fungus {Cordyceps militaris). This 

 is in the form of a club-shaped process, red in 

 colour and about an inch in height. If the soil 

 is disturbed it will always be found in associa- 

 tion with a caterpillar or a pupje, on which it 

 is, of course, parasitic. The most distinctive 



