20 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



second, the threads of the capillitium are long, much branched and 

 interwoven, as in Tulostoma : third; the elemental hyphae of the perid- 

 ium are scarcely different from the threads of the capillitium and are 

 continuous with them, in this respect agreeing again with Tulostoma . 

 fourth, there is an entire absence of any columella, in fact it is pre- 

 cluded by the nature of the capillitium : fifth, both threads and spores 

 differ greatly in size from those of Geasters. It is impossible to 

 define accurately the genus Geasier and retain this species within it. 



i. A. hygrometricus, Pers. Peridium depressed-globose, the 

 cuticle deciduous with the mycelium ; outer peridium deeply parted, 

 the segments 7-20, strongly hygrometric, acute at the apex ; inner 

 peridium depressed-globose, sessile, reticulate, pitted, whitish becom- 

 ing gray or brownish ; the mouth an irregularly lacerate aperture. 

 Threads of the capillitium rather thinner than the spores, hyaline 3 

 spores globose, minutely warted, brown, S-n mic. in diameter. See 

 Plate II., B. 



Growing in fields and woods in sandy soil. New England. Frost ; 

 New York, Peck ; Pennsylvania, Schweinitz. Gentry ; North Carolina, 

 Schweinitz, Curtis: South Carolina, Ravenel : Florida, Catkins ; Texas, 

 Drummond : New Mexico, Wright; Wisconsin, Brown, Tre/case . 

 Kansas, Cragin ; California, Harkness. A very common species found 

 everywhere in the world. Inner peridium - ; 4 -i inch in diameter, the 

 segments expanding to a breadth of 2-3 inches. The inner layer of 

 the outer peridium is cartilaginous-gelatinous, hard and rigid when 

 dry, swelling greatly and flexible when wet: though constantly 

 becoming more and more cracked and fissured, it retains its hygro- 

 scopic qualities a long time, and the outer peridium remains lying on 

 the soil, stellate in shape, spreading out its rays in moist weather and 

 bending them inward in dry. 



Genus VI.— Mitremyces, Xees. 



Mycelium composed of numerous cord-like cartilaginous gelatinous 

 fibers, which branch and anastomose into a dense net-woik, thus 

 forming a thick rooting base. Peridium subglobose, composed of two 

 coats ; outer peridium cartilaginous-gelatinous, thin and fragile when 

 dry, thick, soft and flexible when wet, at first concrete with the inner 

 peridium, then at maturity burst into segments and torn away. Inner 

 peridium globose, composed of two layers : the outer layer cartilagin- 

 ous, hard and rigid when dry, tough and flexible when wet-j lining 

 the inner surface of this is a very thin delicate membrane sacculus) 



