6 
ON MIMICRY IN FUNGI. 
Vegetable Semblances. — There are some few vegetable 
mimicries that it will be convenient to take first, as they are not 
numerous. If Mr. Fitche’s figure of Balanophora involucrata , 
Hook., # can be relied upon to the extent his figures usually can, a 
more striking resemblance to Agaricus muscarius , Linn., can hardly 
be imagined. The colour of the pileus, with the white warts upon 
it, the white stem and volva of the fungus, here find their counter- 
parts so accurately delineated that the uninitiated can hardly be 
persuaded he is not looking at the representation of a specimen of 
A. muscarius which has just burst its volva, until the letterpress be 
referred to. 
Of Hygrophorus calyptrceformis , B. & Br., Mr. Berkeley f says 
— “ The young pileus has a great resemblance to the internal 
bractea of an artichoke just before expansion.” 
The young plant of Hydnum coralloides, Scop., bears consider- 
able resemblance to a cauliflower, as was long ago pointed out by 
Persoon. J 
Tremella moriformis, Berk., receives its name from its likeness 
to a mulberry, which is heightened by its communicating a violet 
stain “ to whatever the plant touches.” 
Exidia glandulosa , Fr., especially in damp weather, mimics 
most accurately of all the Tremellce — the common Nostoc. Any- 
one who has seen Licea fragi formis, Fr. ( Tubulina cylindrica , 
Bull.) just before maturity must have been struck by its resem- 
blance to a ripe strawberry. 
Animal Semblances. — It is unnecessary to do more than indi- 
cate the semblance which the name of Cynophallus implies ; but 
it is worthy of notice that, although flies feed greedily upon its 
hymenium, it rarely if ever falls a prey to their larvie. The 
peculiar structure of the stem is not totally unlike the Corpus 
cavernosum of the anatomht. It is remarkable amongst the 
Phalloidei for being nearly scentless. 
Clathrus cancellatus , Mich. When Mr. Broome found this 
fungus in an advanced state in Italy, he was struck by the resem- 
blance it bore to the entrails of some animal. He says in a letter 
to me — “ It was when in a state of decay the meshes appeared to 
elongate, and to form an intricate foetid mass. I forget the cir- 
cumstance of the flies hovering over it but no doubt they did so 
from its horrible odour.” 
Ncematelia encephala , Fr., Mr. Berkeley || says, “ looks like the 
brain of some animal,” and anyone who is acquainted with it will, 
agree with him.§ 
* “ Berkeley Outlines of British Fungology,” pi. ii, fig. 8. 
f “ Berk. Annals Nat. Hist,” No. 3j May, 1838, p. 199, No. 63. 
j “ Persoon Synopsis,” p. 564. 
|| “ Berkeley Outlines,” p. 290. 
§A striking resemblance to brain matter amongst the cryptogamia is 
found in Dasxjgltea amorpha, Berk. This curious Nostoc-like Alga, is not 
uncommonly found in this country, and has been brought to me with the 
