I 12 



The Museum Gazette 



The fungus often responsible for the very unpleasant odour 

 in woods, especially those of fir, in July and August, belongs to 

 a very remarkable group, the Phalloidea or stinkhorn fungi. It 

 is scientifically known as the Phallus impudicus. In the young 

 state the whole plant is enveloped in an egg-shaped volva, 

 consisting of three layers, and is then without smell. Upon 

 bursting the volva it attains full size with great rapidity. The 

 white honeycombed stem is surmounted by a cap with poly- 

 gonal cells upon it. These cells contain an extremely foetid 

 green slimy substance, in which are immersed the spores or 

 seeds. Flies and other insects are attracted by the smell, 

 which resembles carrion, and, feeding upon the slime, carry 

 away the spores, which are thus dispersed over large areas. 



The larvae of the onion fly (Anthomyia ceparum) now attack 

 onions. There is no mistaking the symptoms, the leaves fade 

 and turn yellow ; all plants with yellow leaves invariably 

 contain two or three larvae. The larvae feed for a fortnight, 

 then leave the bulb and pupate in the earth. In Miss 

 Ormerod's " Manual of Injurious Insects," prevention and 

 remedies are discussed at some length. The attacked onions 

 should be carefully extracted at once, by means of a spud or 

 an old knife, but never pulled up. If this is done thoroughly, 

 the next brood of flies will be much diminished. 



