23 
appearance as those of N~. rumpens , from which this appears to differ in 
its more broadly effused, thinner stroma and depressed globose peri- 
tkecia. 
Nummularia subapiculata, E. & E. (n. s.). On bark. Topeka, 
Kan. Oragin 267. Subcuticular, erumpent l-2 cm across, convex, l mm 
thick or a little more in the center, with the sterile margin thinner. 
Ostiola slightly papillose, prominent as in the two preceding species. 
Perithecia monostichous, obloug, about three-fourths millimeter high, 
closely packed and more or less laterally compressed. Asci cylindrical, 
90-100/* (p. sp.), with a short stipitate base, and with long stout para- 
physes, as in N. Bulliardi. Sporidia uniseriate, oblong-navicular or 
inequilateraliy-elliptical, pale yellowish brown, 12-16 by 5-7/*, mostly 
with a single nucleus and a faint, bead-like apiculus at each end. This 
was reported to Professor Oragin as N. Bulliardi Tul. It differs from 
that species as uoted. 
THE GENUS SCLERODERMA IN SACCARDO’S SYLLOGE. 
By J. B. Ellis. 
This genus in Vol. VII, Part I, of the Sylloge appears to be made up 
of heterogeneous materials, being made to include not only the species 
usually known as Scleroderma , with a thick, corky peridium, but also 
species with papery-membranaceous peridium, heretofore included in 
Bovista and Mycenaslrum. Among the latter we find Myceyiastrum 
Oregonense , E. & E. This species was already sufficiently unfortunate 
in being overburdened with names, a comparison with authentic speci¬ 
mens showing it to be the same as Bovista pila B. & C.,and B. tabacina , 
Sacc. It uow becomes Scleroderma Oregonense and LanopiM tabacinal 
The specific nam e pila being the one first given must take precedence, 
and unless the genus Bovista is to be abandoned I see no good reason 
why the generic name given by B. &. C. should not also remain. The 
species in question is closely allied to Bovista nigrescens , Ters. So 
closely in fact that, regarding only its external characters it could 
not safely be separated from that species. Its internal characters, 
however, are slightly different. 
The true B. nigrescens (Sec English and Italian spec.) differs in its 
rather larger (5/*) spores, which are also often very slightly muricu- 
late-roughened and have a hyaline pedicel about equal in length to the 
diameter of the spore, while in B. pila the spores are generally a little 
paler, not distinctly pedicellate and quite smooth. In both the capillitium 
is about the same, forming loose balls (2 mm diam.) closely packed and 
filling the entire peridium with a firm elastic purplish-brown mass. 
When examined microscopically this capillitium is seen to be made up ot 
numerous small knots or ganglia consisting of intricately entangled 
