4 
AUSTRALIAN FUNGI. 
sarum, floccis paucis, hyalinis immixtis. Stipes validus, solidus 
sublignosus, demum cavus. 
Cei. Berkeley, qui pro Phellorina sua, stipitem cavum poscit, 
ipse monet, se unicum modo specimen vetustum fungi hujus vi- 
disse ; cum vero specimina plura, nuperius e regione Capensi allata 
et characteres generis hujus reliquos praB se ferentia, stipite solido 
gaudeant, conjicere licet, cavitatem stipitis modo fortuitam, a ve- 
tustate pendentem esse. Nec color sporarum flavus, inter char- 
acteres generis recipiendus videtur. 
Phellorina strobilina, Kalchbr. (Scleroderma strobilina, K., in 
Grevill., iv.,74;.') 
Peridio globoso-depresso, superne squamis validis, angulatis, 
munito, glabro pallido, demum rimose dehiscente ; stipite solido, 
sublignoso, nudo, sursum dilatato ; sporarum massa, a stipite dis- 
tincta, cinereo-fuscescens. Sporae globosae, verruculosse, vix pellu- 
cidae, ‘005 mm. diam. 
Queensland. Eockhampton. Thozet, No. 722 (Mueller). 
Peridium 5-6 cent. diam, stipes 3-4 cent, longus, 1-1 1 cent, 
crassus ; parietes peridii 2-3 mm. crassi ; squamae areolatae frus- 
tulatim delabentes. 
Dehiscendi modo et colore sporarum a genuinis Phellorinis 
differt ; hinc facile novum genus. 
Valsa echidna, Cke. 
Erumpens. Peritheciis (10-20) in stroma nivea pulverulenta 
nidulantibus. Ostiolis cylindricis, elongatis, flexuosis, exsertis. 
Ascis numerosissimis, clavatis, minimis (•02-*025 x *006 mm.). 
Sporidiis tenuibus, curvulis, hyalinis (.004 mm. long). 
On bark (Baron von Mueller). 
A most distinct and characteristic species, in habit resembling 
Valsa Sallies, Berk. 
BREAKING OF THE MERES. 
Pi/ W. Phillips, F.L.S. 
Several of the Shropshire Meres are subject at this time of year 
to, what is locally known, as “ breaking,'^ which consists of a thick 
green scum being formed on the surface of the water, which lasts 
for a period of a week or more. It is a well-known fact amongst 
fishermen that it is utterly useless attempting to fish while the 
water is in this state, for the fish are said to be sick, and will not take 
the bait. If the cause of this “ breaking ” of the Meres be inquired 
about on the spot various opinions are expressed. Some people 
attribute it to the seeds of aquatic plants with which they suppose 
the water becomes filled, which, as we shall presently see, is not 
very far from the truth, G. Christopher Davies, in his little book. 
