FOR thirty or forty years the term "mimicry " has been applied to certain resemblances in plants to those of other species often widely separated from them. It has been objected that the term implies a conscious imitation, of which plants are incapable, and hence another term, that of "homoplasy," has been proposed, but not generally adopted; therefore, with all its imperfections, we prefer to adhere to the one which is best known. We will not assume that the resemblances to which we wish to call attention are other than remarkable coincidences, but even as such they are worthy of note. Although a number of instances have been indicated amongst flowering plants, very slight attention has been paid to these coincidences in cryptogams.* Nevertheless, several instances have been adduced by Mr. Worthington Smith, to which others may be added. These are chiefly confined to the Agaric family, and although some of them striking, they are scarcely so satisfactory as they would have been had the resembling plants been further removed from each other. Thus, one poisonous species, Agaricus, Hebeloma, fastibilis, greatly resembling in appearance the edible mushroom, Agaricus, Psalliota, campestris, came up in great numbers upon a mushroom bed, and might have caused a disastrous result, had not the fact been detected by an adept. Another instance was that of a mass of fungi which also made their appearance on a mushroom bed. At first sight, these chiefly resembled the variety of an edible species which not unusually comes up in clusters on old beds. It has white spores, with a lobed and undulated white pileus (Agaricus, Clitocybe, dealbatus). The imitating fungus had the same wavy cap, white colour, and fungoid odour, but the spores were pink, and its structural features were distinctly those of quite a different species (Agaricus, Clitopilus, orcella). In this instance both species were quite innocuous. Two wholly distinct but very similar fungi commonly grow together on wood ashes or scorched places, where charcoal has been burnt; these are Cantharellus carbonarius and Agaricus, Collybia, atratus. In similar localities, and under like conditions, two other diverse fungi are ordinarily found growing together, Agaricus, Flammula, carbonarius and Agaricus, Flammula, spumosus, but these are very closely allied species. Similarly, also, the closely allied Agaricus, Hypholoma, fascicularis, and Agaricus, Hypholoma, capnoides, or another pair, Agaricus, Flammula, alnicola, and Agaricus, Flammula, conissans, are scarely unexceptional instances, as compared with each other, but either of the first may be taken with either of the last pair, and the coincidence of colour, form, size, mode of growth, and even habitat, is complete. With any of these the recently described Agaricus, Clitocybe, Sadleri, with white spores, have a striking resemblance. So that here we have five yellow species found growing on wood, to which three or *Gardeners' Chronicle, February 10th, 1877. four others might be added, were they not so closely allied to those already named,* and an ordinary observer would regard all as the same species. There is, however, a small Agaric, which is known to the majority of mycologists from its strong odour of stinking fish (Agaricus cucumis). It grows on the ground, and upon fragments of dead wood, and has red-brown spores. Yet there is an imitator in a small fungus with white spores, found in just the same localities, with the identical fishy odour. According to all authority and experience, the difference in the colour of the spores is not a mere difference of species, but indicates quite a separate and distinct group of species. Two other species, one having white spores (Agaricus, Clitocybe, parilis) and the other pink spores (Agaricus, Clitopilus, popinalis), have very strong external resemblances, and yet they are often found growing together. And two very similar forms, each with an excentric stem, found growing on trunks, are so much alike in general aspect, that it is absolutely impossible to distinguish the one from the other, except by the colour of the spores, which, in one instance, are white (Agaricus, Pleurotus, ostreatus) and the other rosy (Agaricus, Claudopus, euosmus). They will grow together on the same tree, and in the same season of the year. whereas the white spored species is edible, and the pink spored one is said to be deleterious. We might also instance Agaricus, Tricholoma, nudus, a handsome violet species, which, when well grown, is scarce to be distinguished from Cortinarius violaceus, except that, in the former, the spores are white, and in the latter rusty. Then, also, there are Agaricus Tricholoma, russula, and Hygrophorus erubescens, often so much alike that some mycologists contend that both are the same species. A similar remark applies also to Agaricus, Mycena, balaninus, and Marasmius erythropus. In fact, we need not multiply instances, as every mycologist knows from experience that very many of the species have their analogues in other sections, from which, at a casual glance, it is difficult to distinguish them. Taking a still wider range of comparison, the Balanophorea, a family of flowering plants, are in their parasitic habits, form, colouring, and odour, close imitators of fungi. And even if we confine ourselves to the Cryptogamia, we find amongst Algæ, in the species of Nostoc, a great likeness to Tremella amongst fungi. And so again in Lichens we have Lecidea, scarcely distinguishable, except by experts, from Patellaria, a genus of fungi. And Boomyces amongst Lichens resembles Stilbum in fnngi; as also the Graphideous Lichens are imitated in Hysterium, and Platygrapha in Stictis. Equally startling are the resemblances between widely separated groups of fungi, as, particularly, the entire Hypogæous Gasteromycetes, which in form, size, odour, habit, and all, save fructification, imitate the Truffles (Tuberacei). Podaxon, again, in appearance resembles Coprinus; and Hypolyssus might be mistaken for an immature Crucibulum. Verpa has the form of a Phallus, but deficient in a volva. The largest species of Wynnea might almost be mistaken for a Sparassis if the fruit were not examined. And Clavaria has its club-shaped forins repeated in Cordyceps and Geoglossum, with its * As Ag. inopus, Ag. epixanthus, and Ag. elæodes. branched forms in Lachnocladium. The species of Craterellus are not unlike large Peziza, and the smaller forms of the latter genus are represented in Cyphella, where some correspond to Hymenocypha, others to Mollisia, and others to Dasyscypha. 66 We have not designed to do more than to suggest a subject for reflection, and not by any means to exhaust it. Neither shall we attempt to demonstrate the 'why and wherefore" of such coincidences. For the present we are content to regard them simply as coincidences, although, in some cases, so striking that we are loth to consider them accidental, but that they have a cause, and are a mystery which we are at present unable to account for or explain. I am afraid that some of my friends who have the misfortune to listen to this paper, will remark that the fungi in it shine by their absence. But the object of my little paper is merely to point out to English mycologists the best localities for fungi in Tyrol; to show them where to go, rather than what to look for. My rather frequent visits to the eastern Alps have always taken place in July and August, when few fungi are to be seen. It is still an unrealized project of mine to visit South Tyrol in October. Perhaps some of the distinguished mycologists present, annoyed by the gradual retirement of interesting species from the neighbourhood of Hereford, may some day offer to accompany me. The best head-quarters for mycologists visiting the Dolomites are the villages of Paniveggio and St. Martino di Castrozza. Both these places, with cheap and comfortable inns, are 5000 feet above the level of the sea, and are surrounded by the finest forests in Tyrol. These forests belong to the Crown; the peasants are therefore not allowed to cut them down. The pine trees consequently attain an abnormal size. Above the forests rise the noble ranges of the Primiero Dolomites; a grand succession of rocky pyramids, shattered towers and slender pinnacles, which for years baffled the best climbers of the Alpine Club. But the mycologist will find ample occupation below, and when bewildered with the profusion of novel Agarics, he may refresh his faculties by gazing at the glorious scene around him. I noticed, amongst other things, a large number of very fine Pezziza macrocalyx, and several novelties in Russula. Auronzo would be a good centre for head-quarters; I observed a great many fungi in the neighbouring woods, especially a very curious Hydnum, new to me. Upper Styria is noted for having the wettest climate in the Alps. It is called " green Styria," from the mountains being clad with forests almost to their summit, and is a splendid fungus country. The best head-quarters will be found in Schladming, Trieben, and Admont. I observed a great variety of Cortinarii near Admont, and an abundance of Kalchbremer's Boletinus cavipes, on the Bösenstein mountain, near Trieben. I noticed this curious fungus also in the Zillerthal, and shall never forget the feast, my friend Evers, of Innsbruck, and myself enjoyed at Breitlahnen, in that valley. We had gathered a large quantity of a sinall Alpine form of puff-ball, and had them boiled with the soup for dinner. What trouble we had to induce the landlady to cook them, and how great her astonishment when both she and some fellow-travellers found them delicious. I shall also not forget being made very unwell at Primiero, by partaking of a dish of Chantarelles, of ancient date, which the host had prepared to please his mycological guest. Respecting the edible fungi of Tyrol, all I could ascertain was that Cantharellus cibarius was the only fungus eaten. All others, even Boletus edulis, which is abundant, are unknown as articles of food. In conclusion, I beg to inform anyone visiting the Alps, that Bredasola is publishing figures of the Tyrolese fungi. He lives in the Val de Rabbi, near Trient. I have little doubt but that the new and interesting fungi he figures, may be found in the more accessible localities described in this paper. PROTOCOCCUS. ACCORDING to some authors Protococcus takes its name from two Greek words signifying first or elementary fruit, from the idea that its structure is elementary; according to others, from first berry, from its likeness to a berry. It is in reality one of the unicellular Alga, which are plants consisting of single cells, either combining together in few numbers in groups, or solitary. There is still much imperfect knowledge with regard to these minute plants, inasmuch as their structure is very much like the organisms of the Palmellaceae, which are Algae, and also like the gonidia of some lichens, so much so as to be scarcely distinguishable from them. Much research is needed to make their life history from beginning to end more satisfactory than it is, their very minuteness making the study complicated. In Protococcus viridis, which is found all through the year growing on the trunks of old trees, less frequently on walls, we have the frond of the Alga in its ordinary form, which is more or less rotund. It exists in two states, there is the active motile form, and there is the resting one. In the former of these-the motile form—the plants increase by subdivision, and may be found in an active state. Amongst them are some which have cilia, generally speaking two cilia, which are very much like zoospores: they are projected through the gelatinous cellulose case which originally enclosed them. They move about with the cilia for a time, but at last become stationary like their neighbours. The resting state, as the name implies, is one of repose, in it they germinate in due course of time, after having formed for themselves a thickish envelope. This plan enables them to propagate again. It is a singular thing that in this resting state they are vastly better for having been allowed to dry up. It seems contrary to our notions that fresh water Algae should not be utterly destroyed unless they were under the influence of moisture; but it is a fact that their development does require absolute dryness, or if not required it is no earthly disparagement to them. I remember a friend telling me, that on a certain occasion, after an absence from home of some weeks, to his great disturbance of mind he found, on his return home that his servants had tidied up his room, and in doing so had emptied some of his bottles; amongst them was a bottle of Protococcus. After it had been unattended to for some weeks, he put some water into it, and to his intense delight and astonishment, soon found a rich colony of Protococcus full of life. I recollect reading somewhere a suggestion, that the Diatomacea are eccentric in their habits. We know that they are found in peculiar places, where occasionally they are very dry, such as the trunks of trees, the corners of windows in railway carriages, &c. A drenching of wet does not suit them in reviving, but a gradual moistening does, such as dew or fog. So also many of our snails and slugs are quite dormant in dry seasons. If they cannot find a moist cool place, they form a false operculum, and so are free from attacks of many creatures which otherwise would prey upon them. This false mouthpiece is gradually dissolved when rain comes, and the mollusks again become active. So with Protococcus. P. viridis at certain times of the year fringes the edges of pools with a green scum, and as the water recedes they get that amount of dryness which, so far from being an injury to their life, seems to be so highly important to their perpetuity. Exactly corresponding to this state of life we find Protococcus pluvialis, inhabiting, amongst other localities, the ends of waterpipes, spouts, and gutters, which at times, as in the heat of summer, become as dry as bricks, but as soon as a shower of rain comes, Protococcus becomes wide awake, and quite ready for its mission in life. The ready appearance of Protococcus is extraordinary. In houses before their structure is complete, before they are out of the builder's hands, it exists. If it can gain a position anywhere it avails itself of its posture. The wind no doubt is a useful agent in effecting this, and conveys it as opportunity occurs, to various localities. It has been said that Protococcus viridis, when enormously developed, produces, under certain conditions, what is known as the red snow, figured by Greville (Sc. Crypt Fl., fig. 231,) as P. nivalis. The word viridis certainly seems inapplicable to nivalis, as also does the term red to snow. But it must not be forgotten that certain states of Protococcus, although green, do become transformed to red. Dr. Harkness, a friend known to most of us, sent me some red snow from the United States of America, a few months since: unquestionably, on arrival, it was far redder than snow. Not only has the redness faded, but the crusting over the plant has considerably thickened, and there is a large preponderance of green |