A FUNGUS FORAY IN THE MIDDLETON DISTRICT. 
389 
was almost a necessity in Pilaira, since by its swelling the 
sporange was removed from the stem, would tend to diminish 
in quantity as it has done in Pilobolus; but as it would still 
have a use in binding the spore-mass together, it would not 
entirely disappear. 
Having then arrived at P. crystallinus, and P. Kleinii , we 
must regard cedipus as a degraded form, connected with the 
latter by the forma sphcerospora, and exiguus as a still lower 
stage. On the other hand lomjipos , the most splendid species 
of the group, is an advancement on Kleinii, and must be con¬ 
sidered as the highest type to which the evolution of the 
Mucorini, in this direction, has yet advanced. 
Since it would appear, then, that the species of Pilaira 
show us a distinct stage in the evolution of Pilobolus, at 
which they themselves have remained, while the true Piloboli 
have undergone a considerably greater development, the 
intermediate connecting forms having disappeared, we have a 
sufficient justification for the view (propounded by Van 
Tiegliem and adopted here) which places these two sets of 
species in two distinct genera. It is on such a basis, in fact, 
mainly, that genera can be satisfactorily established. 
A FUNGUS FORAY IN THE MIDDLETON DISTRICT. 
During a recent visit of the eminent Fungologist, Dr. Cooke, 
to Birmingham, I availed myself of this advantage to make 
an excursion in his company to a district in which I have 
long felt an interest, and from which I have recorded from 
time to time many good and rare fungi. The district lies 
between Sutton and Middleton, and includes Middleton Heath 
and the two prolific woods, Trickley Coppice and New Park. 
Trickley Coppice appears to be comparatively recent as a 
woodland, and doubtless in the days of Ray was a part of 
Middleton Heath ; New Park, however, is historic, and claims 
a special interest from its being more than once mentioned 
by E ay, in his Synopsis Methodica and Cataloyus Plantarum , 
for rare and interesting botanical treasures, notable among 
which is Osmunda reyalis, the Royal Fern. The district still 
retains many of its old features; everywhere you see evidences 
of its former lieathlike characters. The waysides abounding 
in bramble, furze, heath, ling; here and there, though now at 
rare intervals, the sheep’s scabious; and in former times, as 
we may see by a letter from Ray to Mr. Lister, dated 
Middleton, 1GG9, the beautiful trailing stems of the cranberry, 
