18 
NOTES ON THE DISCOMYCETES. 
of Mycologists, and may, perhaps, serve, in some measure to remove 
the difficulties. 
Treating on the larger, fleshy Discomycetes , which are difficult to 
preserve, with which it chiefly deals, we possess a work which is 
justly known and maybe commended as excellent, namely Cooke’s 
“ Mycographia.” Still this work is naturally not without mistakes 
(what human work is ?), but everyone who has used this work, and 
in addition, has tried to agree with it, will concur with me when I 
point to it as useful in the highest degree as a labour performed in 
a scientific spirit, and with great knowledge of the subject. 
The greater part of the species, represented and described, are 
either original specimens, or specimens purchased in published 
dried collections. The latter especially, allow a judgement as to 
the accuracy and reliability of the descriptions ; I have up to now 
seldom had occasion in this respect to make corrections, yet on this 
point just one word. 
My view is that Cooke’s work will be universally considered as the 
groundwork of our jurther investigations and observations in the 
department of the Discomycetes with which it deals , and that Cooke’s 
drawings will be regularly quoted , especially in dried collections, as 
also in exchanges and in descriptions, and lists of Discomycetes. 
Anyone will be able, easier than heretofore, to render a species 
intelligible ; each individual Mycologist will by this means be in the 
position with any species he may find to refer to a generally 
accessable— I might call it — scheme of reference (Schema zuriick- 
zufiihren) which, without recourse to anything further, will be 
intelligible to all. 
Should my proposition meet the concurrence of Mycologists, the 
claim on them will occur to all to perfect Cooke’s work by con- 
tributing to the correction of any errors, which would be to the 
general benefit. I will make a beginning here, on my part, after 
the example of Herr Dr. Rehm, who, in a praiseworthy and success- 
ful manner, has some time since taken the lead. 
In the first place, it may be allowed me to remark that the state- 
ment in many places of the size of the sporidia is to be regarded as 
the average size. Also that the sporidia of the Discomycetes, like 
those of Ureda, are variable in size, and modified in outline. I 
shall give the extreme measure in my work, such as I practically 
find on examination, the same as I have already done in my work 
on the Ustilagina and Ureda. Still some of Cooke’s statements 
must depend on erroneous observations. 
Peziza fusispora, Berk. (Rabh., “ Fung. Europ.,” 1812) has 
sporidia from 24-26 mm. long, 9-10 mm. broad. Peziza convexula , 
Pers. (Fuckel, “ Fungi Rhen.,” 1875) the sporidia are narrowed at 
both ends, while Cooke shows them broadly rounded. Peziza 
Chateri, Smith (Rabh., “ Fung. Europ.” 1517) has sporidia from 16 
to 17 mm. long, 10 mm. broad. The characteristic clothing of 
hairs (represented well by Cooke) renders this always easily known, as 
with the specimens of the species found at Berlin. Peziza pilifera, 
