406 POLYMORPHIC FUNGI, 
which we were acquainted. Here was a problem to be solved un- 
der the most favorable conditions, a forest of mould indoors, within 
a few yards of the fireside, growing quite naturally, and all stran- 
gers; could they all be related, or if not, why should all of them 
appear on that wall for the first time? Whence could these new 
forms proceed? Were they a new creation? Were they only 
other conditions of very common things ? Certainly here was ma- 
Fig. 78 terial for much reflection, per- 
haps some speculation. Some 
of the prob ems are still un- 
solved. 
The cottony tufts of white 
mould which were the first to 
appear had an abundant my- 
celium, but the erect threads 
which sprung from this were 
all for some time sterile (Fig. 
78, a); they were slender, very 
delicate, jointed, and branched ; 
so interlaced that it was dif- 
ficult to trace the threads 
throughout their length, or to 
separate them from each other. 
Fertile threads were then de- 
veloped in tufts mixed with 
the sterile threads, or individ- 
ual fertile threads appeared 
amongst the sterile. These lat- 
a, Barren reed of Rhinotrichum lanosum: $ nonpa * pie . ter and 
, Fertile thread; c, Portion of fertile thre ad, ter were rather shorter 
showing one of tae brane ri Sea Py ith terminal m4 le k: >e 
spic ules bearing the sp i, a spore des stouter, also sparingly branch 
een ed, but beset throughout nearly 
their whole length with short, patent, alternate (mostly) branch- 
lets. The branchlets were broadest towards the apex, so as to be 
almost clavate, and the extremity was beset with two or three 
short spicules (Fig. 78. b). Each spicule was surmounted by an 
obovate spore (Fig. 78, d) attached to the spicule by its smallest 
end (Fig. 78,¢). The presence of fertile threads gave the pale 
ochraceous tint to the tufts already alluded to. This tint was 5° 
slight that perhaps it would have passed unnoticed but for the 
proximity of the snow-white tufts of barren threads. The fertile 
