1 Journal of Proceedings.
now than before the city conservators commenced draining and beautify-
ing the glades. Should an old defunct equine example be found let the
hoofs be carefully examined, and the enterprising fungologist may be
equally fortunate with myself in lighting on Onygena equina.
Before dismissing the unpleasant Fungi I must advert to such as
derive their nourishment from manure heaps and dung. Nearly all the
members of some genera of Fungi literally revel in manure. Coprinus,
Bolbitius, Ascobolus, and Pilobolus are notable examples. The two latter
delight in the pabulum afforded by manure, and the members of the
latter genus, as the name Pilobolus indicates, throw off their hats with
rapture at maturity. It is essential for a good knowledge of fungology
that the dung of different animals should be conscientiously examined.
No less than twelve lovely species of Ascobolus grow on cow dung. Some
are peculiar to this material, others are less particular, and sometimes
roam to dung of the horse, deer, sheep, or rabbit; two beautiful Pezizas
also grow on cow dung. Leaving the interesting dung-borne genus
Ascobolus, or "ascus," or "sack-thrower," in reference to the Fungus at
maturity discharging into the air innumerable transparent bladders or
sacks full of spores or seeds, I may refer to Poronia punctata, which
grows equally well on horse and cow dung, to OEdocephalum laeticolor on
sheep's dung, to Ascophora elegant on fowl's dung, to Botrytis jonesii
(poor Jones!) on the dung of dogs and rabbits, and Aspergillus dubius
on rabbits' dung. The two vilest Fungi are Mucor caninus, found on the
dung of dogs (and, strange to say, cats), and the execrable Isaria felina,
found solely on the dung of cats. Dr. Cooke was the first in his self-
sacrificing researches to add this treasure to the British flora, and I well
remember being present at a meeting of a London amateur scientific
society when this valued possession was tenderly taken from a tin
sandwich box for exhibition, to the delight and admiration of the
assembled botanists. The choice specimen here referred to was lent to
me, with many admonitions for its safe custody, so that I might make a
water-colour painting of the whole affair. I felt bound in honour to
make this painting, although it was done at a little personal incon-
venience ; but I was ultimately repaid, for the officers of the British
Museum bought the drawing for their collection of rare and beautiful
objects at South Kensington.
There is, as we all know, a time for everything, and the best time for
looking for and gathering Isaria felina is before people are up in the
morning, or in the dusk of evening, when but few people are about, for
it must always be remembered that common people do not enter into
the feelings and aspirations of fungologists devoted to the "lower
orders." If the Fungus is sought for in the locality whence Dr. Cooke's
example was derived a few lessons in the art of self-defence before going
on the excursion might prove useful.
Leaving the nasty Fungi, a few words may be said about some of the
peculiar ones. Dactylium oogenum grows only inside eggs, Dactylium
roseum inside nuts, Coprinus radians grows on scullery walls and ceilings,
Ascophora Phycomyces on greasy walls, Sporotrichum fenestrale on window
glass, a large number grow on our wall papers, whether varnished or
unvarnished. A Peziza named P. pigottii is said to grow on ceilings,
and other species grow in cisterns and water-butts. I once found a
novelty in my own cistern, and as I could not identify it (and disliking
all new species) I sent it on to Mr. Berkeley for a name. By a curious
mistake Mr. Berkeley thought the prodigy had been sent by his friend
Dr. Bull of Hereford, so he forthwith published it under the name of
Peziza bullii, with the laconic addendum of "Dr. Bull—in a water-butt."
This took Dr. Bull by surprise and amused me, for I certainly had no