130 Biffen—On the Biology of 
to which the naturally growing Fungi are exposed, and con- 
sequently to obtain all the possible spore-forms. I am 
therefore unwilling to doubt the accuracy of Tulasne’s observa- 
tions, even though my cultures have reached the ascus- 
bearing stage. 
In each case the ascophores were fixed in Keiser’s solution 
and preserved in alcohol. The earliest stage examined is 
that shown as a white patch in the second figure. It con- 
sisted of a loose plexus of hyphae with such strongly swollen 
walls that no spaces were left between them, traversed here 
and there by hyphae with thin, dark walls. At the base 
of this a number of spherical portions were sharply delimited 
by walls built up of carbonized hyphae. At first they 
appeared as hollow shells, which in the course of a month 
became lined with a gelatinous mycelium, from which conidia 
(the stylospores of Tulasne) were abstricted. After this the 
conceptacles became full of a gelatinous mycelium, and by 
their subsequent growth formed the greater part of the 
ascophore (Fig. 6). Only the extreme upper portion, and 
fragments of the outer margin, which in part contributed 
to the formation of the scurfy scales, was derived from the 
original plexus. These scales were, for the most part, com- 
posed of hyphae with numerous septa and carbonized walls. 
As this rapid growth proceeded, the hyphae of the gelatinous 
portions became locally swollen into balloon-like outgrowths, 
which occasionally became carbonized, and then had somewhat 
the appearance of chlamydospores. This swelling usually 
began at knee-like bends in the hyphae (Fig. 7). I have 
only observed this in pure cultures, and have found no trace 
of it in naturally-growing specimens. The next observable 
stage was that a dense mass of paraphyses was developing 
between the original plexus and the still-distinguishable, 
carbonized walls of the conceptacles. At first they were 
straight, and then, as growth continued, sigmoidally curved 
owing to the resistance met with to their upward growth. 
Their obvious function was to bring about the opening and 
expansion of the disc. 
