Parks : Notes on California Fungi 



17 



a very pleasant woodsy odor that I later identified with the fungi 

 they were eating. I found easily one fresh hole about twelve 

 inches in depth in hard soil and could see at the bottom a half 

 eaten fungus. This I secured and found that it was fully as 

 large as an egg. The plant was not plentiful, but after much 

 hard work I secured a total of seven, all deep in hard ground at 

 the base of this nest. They proved to be a species of Gmttieria. 

 Two species are reported from this state by Dr. Harkness, but 

 they seem to be very rare. 



This species possesses an exceedingly powerful smell, which is 

 rather pleasant and easily recognized. The specimens collected 

 were in my possession for a short time, and although securely 

 wrapped and boxed for shipment to Berkeley, they gave ofi: so 

 strong an odor that the house retained traces of it for several 

 days. I have formed a theory of a certain relationship between 

 these hypogaeous forms and the location of rat's nests, and I have 

 so far seen it fairly well verified, for where the fungus is plenti- 

 ful there the rats are also plentiful, or it may be the other way 

 round. 



Within a few days in this same locality, I made a deliberate test 

 of this theory, and without much difficulty after getting a scent 

 I went directly to a small nest in some poison oak and secured 

 three very fine plants. Twice this season I tested the theory, and 

 secured specimens at " The Call " without trouble. On another 

 day when collecting had been very good, and I had overstayed my 

 time at Guadaloupe, as I was making a very hasty departure, going 

 through these same woods, I was attracted by what appeared to 

 be a very fine, large pufTball with a white peridium. I reported 

 it as such and created considerable excitement, for it proved to 

 be another Gautieria having a peridium at maturity. 



These Gautierias have been examined by Professor Zeller, who 

 pronounces them G. morchellacformis and G. Trabuti. 



March 31, 191 7, proved to be a day full of excitement. Pro- 

 fessor Setchell reported the day's collection as " amazing," and, 

 when one considers the results obtained, it was most gratifying 

 to me. It was on this day that I found the above Gautieria with 

 a peridium. I was still at work on the Guadaloupe district, and 

 had spent an entire morning in the thick woods without results. 



