ON MIMICRY IN FUNGI. 
7 
The well-known Fistnlina hepatica , Fr., affording, as it does, 
one of the best instances of animal mimicry amongst fungi, is 
peculiarly interesting, from the fact that, at different periods of its 
growth, it mimics two separate animal structures with great 
fidelity. In its young state, soon after it has made its appear- 
ance, it is light red in colour, and has the shape, size and colour of 
the human tongue ; and, moreover, it has its upper surface studded 
with numerous darker, prominent papillae, exactly as the before- 
mentioned organ has. Here the external likeness ceases ; but if 
a section be made, the alternately darker and lighter lines which 
radiate and diverge from its base recall to the anatomist’s mind the 
fasciculi of the genio-hyo-glossus muscle of the above organ. As 
the fungus approaches maturity, it increases in size and loses its 
light red colour, becoming darker, and at length reddish brown. Its 
upper surface gradually gets less firm in consistency, while from its 
under side are exuded drops of a red fluid. It now looks exactly 
like the liver of some animal from which blood is dripping. 
Peziza leporina , Batsch, bears some resemblance to the ear of 
a rabbit or hare, especially is this the case with a variety which 
grows in fir woods. I have gathered this condition more than once 
near King’s Lynn. 
The resemblance of Morchella Smithiana, Cooke, and other 
morells in a less marked degree, to a mass of honey comb, both in 
form and colour is considerable, and it is not lost until the size of 
the cells be taken into account. These fungi are especially subject 
to insect depredation. 
Thamnomyces hippotrichioides, Ehrb. resembles a tangled mass 
of black horse hair. 
Excrementitious Semblances. Many instances of these are 
afforded by the Myxomycetes in their young state. For example, 
JEthalium septicum, Fr. ( Fuligo varians Sornm.), looks very like 
a small portion of recent human odoure, as do the earliest stages of 
some of the Trichice. Immature specimens of Reticularia maxima, 
Fr. ( Brefeldia maxima, Fr.), and spumaria alba, Bull , have a 
decidedly faeculent appearance. The most striking resemblance to 
dung amongst the Myxomycetes is, however, afforded by Lindbladia 
effusa, Fr., to patches of cow dung. So remarkable is this simi- 
larity that upon one occasion when I was directed by an eminent 
Scottish mycologist to search for this fungus upon the sawdust at 
Botliiemurchus, and told its similarity, yet when I arrived at the 
spot I actually passed over several specimens of Lindbladia , care- 
fully avoiding them, thinking they were cow droppings.* 
query, “What Tremella is this? Or is it the brain of some animal?” 
The likeness is enhanced by the presence of bands of thickened tissue, 
which one might take for pia mater, intersecting, as they do, the 
opalescent semi-gelatinous structure of the plant. 
* It is a curious coincidence that upon both Lindbladia effusa and upon 
cow dung two Siilba occur (S. globosum and S. fimetarium), which bear 
much resemblance to each other in form and colour, but not in size. 
