BRITISH FUNGI. 
331 
ment of peat-bogs in Yorkshire, while the Leotia lubriccc, of 
similar form and olive colour, graces the Kentish hedgerows. 
But of all the wicked-looking Fungi, none have so weird an 
appearance as the black Oeoglossum. It is well termed Earth- 
tongue, for it springs in a tongue shape from the ground, black 
and glutinous. I have seen it in cultivated plantations in Wilts, 
in woods in Herefordshire, and abundantly among the sward of 
Scottish heaths all about the Western Highlands. Contrasting 
agreeably with this, come the troop of brilliantly-coloured 
Pezizce. Here the hymenium is within a cup — or sometimes 
saucer-shaped disk. The irregular cups of the large orange 
species (P. aurantia) grow in gardens and plantations in most 
counties. I have often seen them in Kent, and I remember 
them also in the cemetery at Glasgow. Many of the cups were 
as large as half a herbs egg, bright orange within and paler 
without. A round species, rough on the exterior and brown 
within and without, quite globular in youth and never fully ex- 
panding, is frequent in hotbeds ; it is the P. vesiculosa. But 
the favourite of the family is the P. coccinea, adorning dead 
twigs of hazel with its scarlet cups, and forming with moss a 
charming winter bouquet. Children call it Fairy Bath. There 
are a great number of these Pezizce, some larger even than the 
Aurantia, though not so brilliant in hue ; and others smaller 
and yet more minute, till they become microscopic objects — 
lemon, white, blue, crimson, and green. The spawn of one 
of the latter colour imbues the wood on which it grows, and 
makes it very valuable for the workers in Tunbridge ware; 
it is the Verdigris Peziza. 
The Truffles are members of this Ascomycetes class. The 
asci fill the inside of the plant, with the exception of branch- 
ing partitions. They are subterranean in their habitat, and can 
only be found by means of a trained dog, who traces them by 
their powerful perfume.* They are famous in the annals of 
gastronomy, and Perigord pie owes much of its excellence to 
them. Under beech trees is their favourite position, and they 
are to be found in many districts of the South of England. 
Many species are sold in the Italian markets ; one, with a 
garlic flavour, obtains as high a price as 9s. per pound. 
The Sphceriacei are a very large group in this class, but most 
of them are microscopic objects. The Gordicem militaris is one 
of the prettiest members. It has a distinct stem, and its head 
is club-shaped. Of the same genus is the C. purpurea — the 
famous Ergot, so deadly in its effects. It attacks all cereals, 
but more especially rye. Flour made of ergotted rye is so 
* See ‘‘Popular Science Review,” No. IV. (Yol. I.), page 496, “The 
Common Truffle ( Tuber cibarium), by Jabez Hogg, F.L.S., &c.” (illustrated). 
