7.
often in heathy areas, with a very scaly brown
peridium, which cracks open irregularly, and
a purplish gleba. Look out for S. verrucosum
with a thick smooth, greyish peridium stipe-
like base found on richer soil.
In the "earth-stars" (Gaestrum species)
the exoperidium cracks and opens in a star-
like fashion. They are not dealt with here
although, being rare, any records are of
interest.
If you would like to help, please keep
your eyes open for puffballs
and record where you find
them. I would greatly
appreciate specimens as this
enables a check on identifi-
cation to be made which is
essential for a meaningful
survey. Mature specimens
are the most useful as
Puffballs are really
classified by their skeletons
and even a very worn-out
looking puffball is useful.
Dry them indoors in paper bags
or loose and finally store separately in paper
bags. Then, either send them to me (J. F.
Skinner, Central Museum, Victoria Avenue,
Southend, Essex) or bring them in to either
Southend, Chelmsford or Colchester museums.
Any postage will be refunded. Also, if you're
interested, and haven't already done so, let
me know your name and address so that I can
send you more information about puffballs.
J. F. SKINNER
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