320 
GERTRUDE E. DOUGLAS 
investigated in regard to the homologies of their veils and the manner 
of formation of their gills, especially since the exact origin of the latter 
in the genus Coprinus"^'^ has recently become a matter of some con- 
troversy. This investigation was accordingly undertaken in order to 
determine (i) the method of development of the universal and partial 
veils; and (2) the exact origin of the gills in these five species of 
Cortinarius. 
Collection and Preparation of Material. — The material for this 
investigation was all obtained in the vicinity of Ithaca, N. Y. Cor- 
tinarius distans Peck and C. cinnamomeus Fries were collected in the 
woods on the south side of Taughannock Gorge, August 27, 1914. 
The young fruit bodies were dug from rich leaf mold, through which 
the spawn was running, in the vicinity of mature plants. They were 
immediately fixed in medium chrome-acetic acid. C. armillatus Fries, 
C. lilacinus Peck and C. anfractus Fries were collected in a similar 
manner by Professor Atkinson, the former from the moor at Mallory- 
ville, N. Y., and the two latter from the woods by Michigan Hollow 
swamp near Danby, N. Y., in September, 1914. 
The material was dehydrated, cleared in cedar oil and embedded 
in 52° paraffine. About 300 slides were made of the five species. 
Sections were cut 5 and 6 microns in thickness. Basic fuchsin proved 
a most satisfactory stain for C. cinnamomeus and C. distans, but 
would not take well in the tissues of the other plants. C. anfractus 
stained well with carbol fuchsin, but C. lilacinus proved most resistant, 
even to this heroic treatment. At the suggestion of Professor Atkin- 
son, a little experimenting was carried on to determine the effective- 
ness of tannic acid as a mordant, after the sections were fixed to the 
slide. This substance has generally proved very satisfactory in the 
case of fungi, when used at the time of killing. It was found that, 
if the slides were allowed to stand in a 1-2 percent solution for a 
half-hour and then washed for fifteen minutes in running water, they 
took most readily the fuchsin and methyl blue stains without pre- 
cipitation. Sections of C. lilacinus and C. armillatus were stained in 
this manner as well as with iron-alum haematoxylin. The fuchsin, 
however, proved far superior to the others for the photographing. 
Levine, M. The origin and development of the lamellae in Coprinus micaceus. 
Amer. Journ. Bot. i: 343-356. pis. 39, 40. 1914. 
^ Atkinson, G. F. Origin and development of the lamellae in Coprinus. Bot. 
Gaz. 61 : 89-130. Diagrams I-VI. pis. 5-12. 1916. 
