MOMAI) FUNGI. 
9*; 
4C10 
NOMAD FUNGI: THE KECLASSIFICATION OF THE 
UEEDINE.®.* 
BY W. B. GROVE, B.A., HON. SEC. OF THE BIRMINGHAM NATURAL 
HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
Ill choosing the title “ Nomad Fungi” for my paper, I was thinking 
chiefly of what are called the heteroecious species—.that is, those 
which wander during their annual life-cycle from one plant to 
another, as will he afterwards detailed. But it occurred to me also 
that the words would hear another and very apposite meaning in 
reference to the travels of these fungi in their hook-classificatioii, for 
the species of some genera have been handed about from one place, in 
the scheme to another in such a way as fully to justify their claim to 
the name of experienced travellers. You will perceive that I shall 
have again to treat of the subject of classiflcation, which is generally 
considered a very dry one. In the notes which I had the honour of 
reading before this Society on the Myxomycetes, the central point of 
interest was as to the position which those organisms should occupy— 
i.e., whether they should be placed in the animal or the vegetable 
kingdom, and you may perhaps remember that, as might be expected, 
I ventured Anally to decide in favour of the latter. Now I think all 
who have studied that particular point, and the evidence bearing upon 
it, will admit that the question, though it be merely one of classiflca¬ 
tion, was of surpassing interest, partly derived no doubt from the fact 
that the border-land between the animal and vegetable kingdoms, 
though it has been the battle-ground of many a long-decided contro¬ 
versy, is still as uncertain as that which separates Greece from 
Turkey. The scene is now shifted ; we have to deal with a series of 
fungi, about whose vegetable nature not even the most ardent 
zoologist could doubt. But though the interest is different, it is, it 
appears to me, even greater than before. At least, to one who has 
not previously studied these leaf-fungi, the search reveals almost as 
many surprises, as unexpected conclusions, as startling transforma¬ 
tions as any other branch of Natural History could furnish. 
Classh'Ica'iton of the Group. 
To make the subject of our discussion clear, it will be as well to 
begin by giving an outline of the classiflcation of this group in the 
famous Friesian system, which has been hitherto adopted in England., 
Of Fries’ six great classes one is the Coniomycetes, or dast-fuiuii, so 
called from the fact that the dust-like spores form its principal feature. 
I have already pointed out on one occasion how artificial this system is 
in some respects, and described one modification of it—in respect to 
the Myxomycetes—which it is now undergoing' in England. In this 
much needed reform English cryptogamists linger, I am sorry to say. 
Head before the Birininghain Natural History and Microscopical Society, 
October 17th, 1882. 
