160 Journal of Mycology [Vol. 8 
chemotactically to the incoming supplies of newly prepared food 
substances. 
Hypoxylon coccineum Bull, and Alcohol. — Hypoxylon 
coccineum Bull, is a pyrenomycetous fungus found growing on 
the limbs of beech trees. As far as the writer knows, the species 
is confined to a single host — the beech. In color, the fruit bodies 
are a dark, brick-red color. The stromata are erumpent, subglo- 
bose; J-f cm. in diameter, and solitary, or partially confluent. 
When placed in alcohol, the brick-red color is removed and the 
subglobose stroma became umber-brown in color. The alcohol be¬ 
comes a sherry wine color through the presence of the dissolved 
pigment. The solution of the pigment begins almost immediately 
after the fungus is placed in alcohol. 
Relationship of a Fungus (Scorias spongiosa Schw.) 
and a Scale Insect (Schizoneura imbricator). — Living on 
the limbs, twigs and leaves of the beech in the deep shade of the 
forest is found a scale insect (Schizoneura imbricator ), which is 
covered by a woolw coat consisting largely of a w T axy secretion 
from the body. This wool-like material is quite abundant, and 
where the insects live in masses together the entire limb, or leaf 
surface has a downy white appearance. The abdomen of the 
insect keeps constantly moving up and down with a jerking mo¬ 
tion, and the cottony material, therefore, is in constant agitation. 
The insects secrete a honey dew, so copiously, that it flows down 
the main branches and trunks of the beech trees, spreads out over 
the surface of the beech leaves and finally reaches the ground 
where it covers the mosses and forest litter. As the insects die, 
their bodies covered with the downy wax become mixed up 
together with honey dew, so that a rich pabulum is provided 
suitable for the growth of fungi. 
One fungous species in particular seems to be confined to the 
rich food, which as found upon the trees and on the ground is 
of an ash-gray color. The pyrenomycetus fungus in question, 
Scorias spongiosa Schw., soon appears and completely covers 
the ground, limbs and leaves where the ash-gray material col¬ 
lects. The mycelium of much branched, rigid, septate hyphse is 
compacted together by a mucilagenous substance and forms a 
blackish, spongy mass, which bleaches to a yellowish brown color 
upon weathering. The larger glued together strands of the my¬ 
celium bristle with branches developed from the larger hyphae. 
These rather rigid branches, interlocking together, assist in mak¬ 
ing a spongy texture, which gives specific name to the plant. 
The perithecia of the fungus found by the writer are abund¬ 
ant, ovate, or pyriform. The spermagonia, however, which are 
enlarged at the base and taper into a long neck open at the apex, 
are more plentiful in the material from the woods along Crum 
Creek, Delaware Co., Penna., than the perithecia. The ascos- 
