141—URNULA ORATERIUM IN EUROPE. 
This species so common with us in the spring is very rare in 
Europe. It was found in Hungary some thirty-five years ago and 
called by Sehulzer von Muggenberg, Peziza adusta. It has since been 
called Craterium microcrater by Haslinski and transferred to Urnula 
microcrater by Saccardo. Its recent discovery in France (1898) was 
thought to be of enough importance, so that Boudier illustrates and 
describes it (Bull. Soc. Myc. France), and established the synonymy 
we have cited In view of the fact that the plant is so common with 
us, its rarity in Europe is of special interest. 
142—SPORE PRINTS. 
We have received some beautiful spore prints from Geo. E. 
Morris, No. 84 Applegate St., Waltham, Mass, and Mr. Morris has 
favored us with his method of preparing them as follows:— 
“Good spore prints are due mostly to careful attention to simple 
details. 
Be sure to select for spore prints, mushrooms that have no up¬ 
turned edges, etc. but with edges of gills on the same plane, i. e. flat. 
Cut off stem carefully as near to gills as possible and have the 
gills just clear the paper when placed for printing 
For dark spores any rather rough or unsized white paper will 
answer. 
The time necessary for enough spores to fall to make a clear 
print varies so much that experience will be the best guide. I have 
made prints from Coprinus atramentarius in ten minutes while some 
others have taken 48 hours 
To prevent rubbing off spray prints lightly several times, at 
intervals, using the common artist’s fixative and atomizer, diluting 
fixative with equal bulk of alcohol. (Fixative may be made with 
white shellac and alcohol.) 
Cover mushrooms while printing with tumbler, etc. or bell jar, 
if at hand. 
The importance of spore prints has not been appreciated in some 
quarters I am sure, as in addition to color and size of spores^ the prints 
give unmistakable facts as to spacing of gills.” 
I wrote Mr. Morris that in my opinion any process of preserv¬ 
ing spores involving a use of a liquid would somewhat change the col¬ 
or. He replies:— 
“Very little change takes places in color in fixing spore prints. 
Sometimes spores are disarranged by being floated out of place, and 
some white spored species are entirely lost by being “absorbed” but in 
the main fixing has very little damaging effect.” 
My method of preserving prints is to simply deposit them on 
white paper (I do not preserve white spores as I see no object in it) 
and paste the paper on the bottom of a shallow box to prevent rub¬ 
bing. It has one very serious objection. A little “bug” which lives 
on spores is apt to be thrown down with the spores and eat the deposit 
entirely up. This only happens however, in comparatively a few of 
the deposits. (54 
