ecoming gray, with branny scales, with
a small basal mouth. A thin spongy layer will frequently be seen between
the outer and inner peridium. The mass of the spores is olivaceous,
changing to pale-brown. The spores are round, minutely warted, 4-5u. in
diameter, often with very short pedicels.

The plants are usually found in pastures along paths. I have seen them
in several parts of Ohio. They are found from Maine to the western
mountains. This is called Bovista circumscissa by Berkeley.

There is a species of a western range called C. subterraneum. This
differs mainly in having larger spores. It seems to be confined to the
middle west. However, it does not grow under the ground, as its name
would suggest.

There is also another species called C. pedicellatum. This species seems
to be confined to the southern states and differs mainly in the spores
having marked pedicels and closely warted.

_Podaxineae._

This tribe is characterized by having a stalk continuous with the apex
of the peridium, forming an axis. Some of the plants are short stalked,
some long stalked. The tribe forms a natural connecting link between the
Gastromycetes and the Agarics. Thus: Podaxon is a true Gastromycetes,
with capillitia mixed with spores; Caulogossum, with its permanent gleba
chambers, is close to the Hymenogasters; Secotium is only a step from
Caulogossum, the tramal plates being more sinuate-lamellate; and
Montagnites, which is usually placed with the Agarics, is only a
Gyrophragmium with the plates truly lamellate.

KEY TO THE GENERA.

Gleba with irregular, persistent chambers--
Peridium, elongated club-shaped Cauloglossum.
Peridium, round or conical, and dehiscing by breaking
away at the base Secotium.
Gleba with sinuate-lamellate plates Gyrophragmium.
Walls of gleba chambers not persistent Podaxon.

--_Lloyd._

_Secotium. Kunz._

This is a very interesting genus. When I found my first specimen I was
much in doubt whether it was an Agaric or a puffball, as it seemed to be
a sort of connecting link between the two classes. The genus is divided
into smooth-spored and rough-spored species, both having a stalk
continuing, as an axis, to the apex of the plant. The peridium is round
or conical and it dehisces by breaking away at the base. Secotium is
from a Greek word meaning chamber.

_Secotium acu