78 
The Shield Peziza (Peziza scutellata, Page 60), though a very 
small fungus, is fairly . conspicuous on account of its bright red 
colour. The scarlet shield-like disc is found growing on the ground 
and on dead wood, and is surrounded by a ring of long black hairs. 
It is exceedingly difficult to conceive of what advantage the bright 
conspicuous colour of this and so many other fungi can be to the 
plant. 
The Candle-Snuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon, Page 6 1), is 
extremely common on stumps in early autumn. It is a dry woody 
form, and is repeatedly branched above. The branches are covered 
with a sort of mildew, which is really a mass of spores, and the 
ground around is often white with it. The base of the stem is 
clothed with short black hairs, among which are little pits, from 
which a sticky black substance can be squeezed — another sort of 
spore. 
The Devil’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha, Page 62), a near 
relation of the Candle-snuff Fungus, bears only the last-named kind 
of spores, which are contained in little pits all over the surface of 
the fungus. It is much larger and grows in irregular club-like 
masses on old stumps. The clubs are at first greyish, but later 
become coaly black. 
The Pitch Crust (Ustulina vulgaris, Page 63), is also found on 
stumps, where it forms a jet black incrustation, looking exactly as 
if tar had been spilt. The openings of the little pits which contain 
the spores will be easily seen. They can be made out even in the 
photograph. 
The Fairies’ Pin-Cushion (Reticularia lycoperdon, Page 64). 
is the largest of the Mycetozoa. A short note on the very curious 
group of organisms — one hardly knows whether to say animals or 
plants — is to be found on Page 75 of the First Series. The photo- 
graph represents the resting stage, and shows a capsule filled with 
exceedingly minute spores. The whole organism has changed to 
a mass of spores and its enclosing membrane. 
fl 7 NOV 1972 
