ideum_ of Massee's Monograph. I am indebted to Arthur Lister, Esq., of
London, for the identification of my specimens with _Stemonitis
scintillans_, B. & Br., and with _Lamproderma irideum_, Cke.

III. COMATRICHA, Preuss. Sporangia various in shape, from globose or
ovoid to oblong and cylindric, stipitate; the wall very thin and
fugacious. Stipe more or less elongated, smooth and black, arising from
a common hypothallus, tapering upward, entering the sporangium and
prolonged nearly or quite to the apex as a columella. Capillitium
arising from numerous points of the columella throughout its entire
length; the threads immediately branching and anastomosing to form an
interior network, attaining the wall by numerous more or less elongated
free extremities. Spores globose, brown or violaceous.

This genus is not sharply limited from Stemonitis. The species with very
short free ends, and consequently with superficial meshes approximate to
the wall, are near the form of Stemonitis. But it may be observed that
in these species, the meshes of the capillitium become smaller gradually
outward, the sides of the superficial meshes are arched away from the
wall, and they are in contact with it only by the free extremities.

Sec.1. TYPHOIDES. Threads of the capillitium repeatedly branching and
anastomosing, to form a dense network of small meshes, with innumerable
short, free extremities.

1. COMATRICHA TYPHINA, Roth. Sporangia short, erect or a little curved,
cylindric or usually narrowing slightly upward, the base quite blunt,
the apex more rounded, growing together on a thin hypothallus. Stipe and
columella brown or blackish, tapering upward and vanishing near the apex
of the sporangium, the stipe much shorter than the columella.
Capillitium of slender flexuous tawny-brown threads; these branch
repeatedly, forming an intricate network of small irregular meshes,
ending in very short free extremities. Spores globose, violaceous, very
minutely warted, 6-8 mic. in diameter.

Growing on old wood, mosses, etc. Sporangium with the stipe 2-4 mm. in
height, the stipe much the shorter, the sporangium .35-.40 mm. in
thickness. _Stemonitis typhoides_, Fries, S. M.

2. COMATRICHA AEQUALIS, Pk. Sporangia usually more or less inclined or
curved and nodding, cylindric, obtuse at each end, growing together on a
thin hypothallus. Stipe and columella slender, smooth, black, extending
nearly or quite to the apex of the sporangium, the stipe lo