2 1 6 Fulton , — On the Dispersion of Fungi 
ferior and therefore not so freely exposed as in -Phallus impudi- 
cus, but it is interesting to note that the marginal zone of the 
pileus generally becomes radially cleft and split up in a stellate 
manner, the rays thus formed usually curling up so that the 
hymenial surface is freely exposed, and the whole pileus may 
resemble an umbrella turned inside out (PL XV, Fig. 9). In 
Coprinus fimentarius the revolute pileus may droop, flower-like, 
owing to flaccidity of the portion of the stem just below it 1 . In 
some cases, from the radial Assuring and the curling up of the 
pileus, combined with peculiarities of colouring, a curious super- 
ficial resemblance to the flowers of some Compositae may be 
recognised, the unchanged, often brownish centre representing 
the disc and the radiate marginal part the rays. Such may 
be seen in C. oblectus , C. fimetarius t var. pnllatus , C. drains, 
C. papillatus , C. Hendersonii , C. narcoticus , C. nycthemerus , 
C. radiatus , and C. spraguei 2 . This partial mimicry may 
possibly be accidental and without advantage, but it is worth 
noting that the great majority of those species which are 
markedly revolute, or what I may call flower-like, grow on 
dung, where flies are abundant, while of those which possess 
neither of these characters well marked the majority do not 
grow on dung as a rule. We find further that in many Com- 
positae flies form a large proportion of the floral visitors : in 
the ox-eye daisy ( Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum) 36 per cent. 3 ; 
in the daisy [Beilis perennis ) 48 per cent. 4 ; in the wild Chamo- 
mile (. Matricaria Chamomila), which has a strong odour, 65 
per cent. 5 ; and in each case some of the flies habitually affect 
putrid substances also. Considering all these facts in relation 
to the Coprini, the assumption is certainly warranted that they 
exhibit adaptations for the purpose of having their spores 
transported by insects. 
1 Cooke, op. cit. PL 669. 
2 Op. cit. Pis. 661, 669, 675, 676, 680, 682, 683. 
3 Miiller’s Fertilisation of Flowers (Eng. Transl.), p. 331, 1883. 
4 Op. cit. p. 321. 5 Op. cit. p. 332. 
