2 1 2 Fulton . — On the Dispersion of Fungi 
In regard to the insects which visit the foetid slime, I ob- 
served two species of flies ; (i)the ordinary blue-bottle [Musca 
vomitoria ), wdiich was very abundant, and (2) a large bright 
metallic green fly [Musca Caesar ). On partially empty glebae 
which had fallen to the ground I found several small brown 
beetles and small dung-flies. Prof. Rathay gives a list of fourteen 
species observed by him, most of which visit both dung and 
nectariferous flowers. It is probable that further observation 
will show that Phallus is visited by a large number of the 
numerous insects which visit putrid substances ; for it is evident 
that we have here to deal with a case of mimicry, in which 
such substances are successfully imitated. This is shown not 
merely by the physical properties of the deliquescing hyme- 
nium and the action of the flies, but also by the fact that these 
insects sometimes deposit their eggs on the external peridium 
of the burst volva, or on the ground in its immediate neigh- 
bourhood. In the majority of cases this is doubtless an 
instance of an instinct at fault, for I have not found a volva, 
in situ , attacked by the maggots, which probably soon perish. 
In one case, however, where the unruptured volva had lost its 
vitality while I was experimenting with it and lay loose on the 
surface of the soil, I found it riddled by a number of maggots 
which had thriven on their dietary. They were of two kinds, 
the ordinary maggot of the blow-fly, and one of about the 
same length but brown, flattened, and with lateral bristles. 
Having observed the action of the flies in sucking up the 
spore-containing slime, the questions were naturally suggested : 
(1) What effect has the imbibed matter on the fly? and (2) 
What effect has the fly on the spores ? 
In order to determine these points I removed a number of 
nearly ripe specimens in their native earth, and placed them in 
town, where they could be more continuously under observa- 
tion. When the characteristic odour had become developed 
large numbers of blow-flies rapidly made their appearance and 
settled on the deliquescing mass. About twenty flies were 
placed in a box covered with gauze, and supplied from time to 
time with fresh glebae. 
