Coprophilous Fungi. 329 
Hab . — On Goose-dung, Kew, Dec. 1900. 
A. immersus, Pers. ; Boud., Mem. Ascob. 226, PI. 8, xvii (1869), 
Mass. Brit. Fung. FI. iv, 168 (1895). 
Hab . — On dung of Grys-bok ( Raphicerus melanotis), Sinaitic Ibex 
{Capra sinaitica :), Red Deer ( Cervus elapkus), and Ural Wild Sheep 
{Ovts vignei), Kew, Nov.-Dee. 1900. 
Saccobolus quadrisporas, sp. nov. (Figs. 48-51). 
Apotheciis -J-f mm. diam., primo plus minus convexulis diaphanis 
aquoso-violaceis demum planis opacis atro-violaceis vel nigrescentibus, 
maturitate disco ob ascos exsilientes brunneo-punctato, ascis sub- 
cylindraceis sursum truncatis, deorsum bre viter stipitatis saepe curvatis 
95-110x18-20 [x, jodo caerulescentibus quadrisporis ; paraphysibus 
simplicibus vel furcatis filiformibus apice clavulatis septatis ; glome- 
rulis sporidiorum ellipticis 40-45 x 15-16 /z, sacculo communi hyalino 
inclusis, sporidiis in una vel duabus seriebus ordinatis atro-violaceis, 
20 x 8-10 n, praesertim ad margines verrucis minutis praeditis. 
Hab . — In fimo anserino, Royal Gardens, Kew, Nov. 1900. 
A congeneribus ascis quadrisporis distinguenda. 
The apothecia of the present species are at first of a clear watery 
violet colour, but gradually become with age less translucent and 
darker in colour. At maturity the disk is studded with the apices 
of the protruding asci, and at this stage, if the ascophore is placed 
in a drop of water, the ripe asci eject their spores, still surrounded 
by their ‘ sac/ into the water. The outline of this ‘ sac/ or mucil- 
aginous covering, round the ejected spores, is almost invisible without 
staining, but on using methyline blue the mucus becomes clearly 
visible. A considerable number of ascophores were examined, and 
in every case the asci were found to be tetrasporous. The spores 
when separated appear somewhat trigonous in shape ; when seen 
in the clustered position (Fig. 51) each spore shows a pale line 
running across it, which is apparently due, not to a crack in the 
epispore, but to a greater translucency in this part, caused by the 
shape of the spore. The epispore is broken up into the wart-like 
bodies only on the free side of each spore. The ascospores are 
usually arranged in two parallel rows as shown at Fig. 51 ; not 
unfrequently, however, the four spores are found arranged side by 
side in one row. 
S. Kerverni (Cr.), Boud., M&n. Ascob. 229, PI. 8, xviii (1869); 
Mass. Brit. Fung. FI. iv, 171 (1895). 
