138 
OBSERVATIONS ON PEZIZA. 
be regarded as more invariable than the absolute dimensions. The 
latter are given in the following table — 
miniata, FcJcl. 
LENGTH. 
... -02- -022 
mm. 
BREADTH. 
•009 mm. 
ampullacea, Lim. 
•022 
n 
•012 
99 
geneospora, B. 
umbrorum, Fclcl. 
•03 
19 
•01- *011 
19 
... *02- -022 
17 
•018 
17 
Texensis, B. 
... -022--023 
17 
•013 
79 
hirta, Sch. 
•025 
J7 
•01 
77 
Cubensis, B. & C. 
... -018--02 
77 
•Oil 
79 
badio-berbis, B. 
... -022--025 
17 
•012--014 
79 
Lusatiae, Cke. 
•025 
7 7 
•015 
79 
Margaritacea, B. 
... -025--027 
77 
•016--018 
77 
vitellina, P. 
•022 
77 
•015 
77 
crinita, Bull. 
•02 
11 
•012 
17 
strigosa, P. 
... -02- *024 
77 
•01 
17 
labellum, P. 
•02 
71 
•011 
77 
stictica, B. 
•016 
19 
•011 
91 
Maximum 
•03 
77 
•018 
77 
Minimum 
•016 
17 
•009 
97 
Average 
•0222 
19 
•0126 
99 
The whole relationship of the sporidia of one species to those of 
another cannot be comprised in a table. By this means we can 
arrive at the fact that the sporidia of P. hirta in their length and 
breadth bear the proportion of 5 to 2, and in P. geneospora nearly 
of 3 to 1, whilst in P. umbrorum it is only 11 to 9 ; but in the 
same manner we cannot realize the degree of attenuation towards 
the extremities, or the greater or less perfection of the elliptical 
form. Could all these differences result from a modification of an 
original typical form ? Undoubtedly, and unhesitatingly, we must 
concede that such a circumstance is quite within the limits of 
possibility; because, although “individual differences generally 
affect what naturalists consider unimportant parts, yet parts which 
must be called important sometimes vary in the individuals of the 
same species.” This is especially true with regard to the sporidia 
in Peziza. Undoubtedly they are important parts, and, as a rule, 
comparatively permanent, but occasionally they exhibit within 
themselves just those differences which are relied upon as of 
paramount importance in the separation of species. There is one 
fact, however, which may to some extent compensate for this 
admission. Hitherto there has been no indication found of the 
passage of the perfectly globose sporidia to the short ones of the 
elliptic type. No link has been found to unite them. Peziza 
trechispora , with its globose sporidia, notwithstanding the simi- 
larity of all other features, is removed by this one all-sufficient 
character, if by no other, from the fifteen species which we have 
enumerated. If all the said fifteen, and the seven others hereafter 
