FUNGUS FORAYS. 
77 
Lactarius flexuosus, Fr., the latter really a most distinct and 
splendid species. The weather was all that could possibly be 
desired, but fungi were by no means abundant. Several interesting 
and valuable papers were read ; one by C. B. Plowright, on 
“ Diseases of the Tomato,” being published in “ Gardener’s 
Chronicle,” November 12, 1881, and another by the same gentle- 
man appears in the current number of “ Grevillea.” 
Birmingham Natural History Society. — The first Fungus 
Foray of this society took place on Saturday, October 8th, in 
Sutton Park ; but as it did not commence until the afternoon, and 
extended over only two or three hours, it cannot be expected that 
much was done. There was an extraordinary dearth of fungi, and 
nothing new was discovered, although Agaricus heieroclitus, Fr., 
and Agaricus echinatus , Roth., deserve to rank amongst rare 
species. There was a good attendance, and it is to be hoped that 
if the experiment should be repeated next year, a better account 
will be presented. The climatic conditions of early October were 
not favourable to the development of Fungi. 
CYSTIDIA IN THE MUSHROOM TRIBE. 
By W. G. Smith, F.L.S. 
The receipt of the magnificent specimens of Agaricus bomby- 
cinus from your correspondent the Rev. J. M. Du Port, has again 
directed my attention to the subject of cystidia in Agarics. 
Knowing by experience how fine the cystidia are in some near 
allies of A. bombycinus , the first thing I did on receipt of the 
specimens was to look for the cystidia. For several hours of 
the night my efforts to find any were unavailing ; at last I saw 
one, soon afterwards two others (in the hymenium), at length 
two more ; they all agreed exactly in their great size (longer 
than any here illustrated), in their spindle-shape, and in being 
without spicules at the summit. The cystidia must be extremely 
rare in A. bombycinus , and this fact will give some one a good 
opportunity for saying he cannot see them, or for some rash person 
to deny their existence altogether. 
I will briefly state what is meant by cystidia in the Mushroom 
tribe, and my impression that they represent the male element of 
these plants. 
As a good example, I will take Coprinus atramentarius ; this 
is an extremely common deliquescent Agaric, very frequently 
about rotten palings and wooden borders of gardens. Under the 
cap one can, of course, see innumerable black gills, each gill about 
as thick as tissue-paper. If the edge of one of these gills, or a 
section through any part of the gill surface, is examined with a 
microscope, three sorts of cells, in addition to the spores, will be 
seen. First, the simple cells of the plant, as at a, fig. 71 ; next, cells of 
