Mutinus caninus (Httds), Fr . 351 
The features of this stage consist in the beginning of — 
1. The differentiation of the main central column R of the 
stipe, and 
2. The gelatinous accumulation in the layer of that nature 
in the volva. 
Fourth egg . — In the more advanced stage of Fig. 4, the 
central column R is more distinctly set off from the tissue at 
its sides. Near the column this tissue has become looser 
(the portion A), but still remains dense and with many nuclei 
in its dome- or bell-shaped peripheral portion. At its upper 
end, the column R has connexion with this dense portion, 
thus marking out the permanent connexion that exists at the 
apex of the receptaculum between the column R and the 
tissues of the gleba and gelatinous layer of the volva in Fig. 5, 
and in those of later stages. In the early stage of Fig. 4 
the column is not contracted at this place of connexion, as 
in Fig. 5, but its hyphae spread apart, forming a mass with 
an angle of divergence of about 6 o° between its opposite 
sides. 
This stage shows a great increase in the gelatinous accumu- 
lation, which now fills all the loose structure Z, in the upper 
part of the egg, and is extending downward in this structure, 
but keeping close against the cortical layer C in its downward 
course. 
Fifth egg . — This stage is intermediate between that of Figs. 
4 and 5 - The central column spreads out less at its upper end 
and has thus become cylindrical in form. With the growth 
of the egg, the dense zone has become still further removed 
from the column at the sides. Along the inner surface of this 
zone, differentiation of the hymenium is in progress ; this is 
shown under low magnification by the presence of a dark, 
narrow, interrupted line lying parallel to the dense zone, 
and evidently formed from an inner portion of it. Under 
high magnification this line is found to consist of swollen 
portions of hyphae and of their branches arranged side 
by side. 
