ss black, spores by transmitted light dark
brown, rough, 10-12 mu.

Rostafinski distinguished this beautiful species by the color of the
peridium and the conic columella. According to Mr. Lister, Rostafinski
was not specially careful in labelling his material, different forms
having been included under this specific name. Nevertheless, the
description is well drawn, and excludes _L. physaroides_ completely. At
all events our American specimens correspond so well with the
description of _L. columbinum_ (Pers.) Rost. that there seems no doubt
that we have here what the Polish author figured and described, whether
or not he was always consistent in applying his labels. The color
distinguishes at sight the present species from _L. physaroides_, and
the capillitium and large rough brown spores distinguish it from _L.
violaceum_. The capillitium of the minute _L. scintillans_ is much
denser and more rigid, and the spores smaller. The stipe when dry is
ciliate.

This is the common species of our western mountains, especially on the
Pacific slope. In the Cascades every dark ravine is certain to show it
in later summer and autumn, far extended colonies covering the moist
surfaces of every mouldering log; the myriad globoid sporangia giving
back when brought to the sunlight the most extravagant blues and greens
with all the splendor of metallic sheen, their brilliant beauty never
fails to quicken the attention of even the most insensate tourist.

Abundant in the western forests, in the east extremely rare; Maine,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, Oregon; Vancouver, Canada.

4. LAMPRODERMA SCINTILLANS (_Berk. & Br._) _Morg._

PLATE V., Figs. 2, 2 _a_.

1877. _Stemonitis scintillans_ Berk. & Br., _Jour. Linn. Soc._, XV.,
p. 2.
1877. _Lamproderma arcyrioides_, var. _iridea_ Cke., _Myx. G. B._,
p. 50.
1892. _Lamproderma irideum_ (Cke.) Mass., _Mon._, p. 95.
1894. _Lamproderma scintillans_ (Berk. & Br.) Morg., _Jour. Cin.
Soc._, p. 47.

Sporangia gregarious, scattered, globose or depressed-globose, rich
metallic blue or purple, iridescent, stipitate; the stipe long, slender,
even, inclined and nodding or sometimes erect; hypothallus small,
circular; columella cylindric, small, not reaching the centre, black;
capillitium dense, of rigid, straight, sparingly branched or
anastomosing, brown threads, which are sometimes white or colorless just
as they leave the columella; spore