Of colour, fungi exhibit an almost endless variety, from white, through ochraceous, to all tints of brown until nearly black, or through sulphury yellow to reds of all shades, deepening into crimson, or passing by vinous tints into purplish black. These are the predominating gradations, but there are occasional blues and mineral greens, passing into olive, but no pure or chlorophyllous green. The nearest approach to the latter is found in the hymenium of some _Boleti_. Some of the Agarics exhibit bright colours, but the larger number of bright-coloured species occur in the genus _Peziza_. Nothing can be more elegant than the orange cups of _Peziza aurantia_, the glowing crimson of _Peziza coccinea_, the bright scarlet of _Peziza rutilans_, the snowy whiteness of _Peziza nivea_, the delicate yellow of _Peziza theleboloides_, or the velvety brown of _Peziza repanda_. Amongst Agarics, the most noble _Agaricus muscarius_, with its warty crimson pileus, is scarcely eclipsed by the continental orange _Agaricus cæsarius_. The amethystine variety of _Agaricus laccatus_ is so common and yet so attractive; whilst some forms and species _Russula_ are gems of brilliant colouring. The golden tufts of more than one species of _Clavaria_ are exceedingly attractive, and the delicate pink of immature _Lycogala epidendrum_ is sure to command admiration. The minute forms which require the microscope, as much to exhibit their colour as their structure, are not wanting in rich and delicate tints, so that the colour-student would find much to charm him, and good practice for his pencil in these much despised examples of low life. Amongst phenomena might be cursorily mentioned the peculiar sarcodioid mycelium of _Myxogastres_, the development of amoeboid forms from their spores, and the extraordinary rapidity of growth, as the well-known instance of the _Reticularia_ which Schweinitz observed running over iron a few hours after it had been red hot. Mr. Berkeley has observed that the creamy mycelium of _Lycogala_ will not revive after it has become dry for a few hours, though so active before. [A] M. J. Berkeley, "Introduction to Cryptogamic Botany," p. 265. [B] Tulasne, "Sur la Phosphorescence des Champignons," in "Ann. des Sci. Nat." (1848), vol. ix, p. 338. [C] In "Hooker's Journal of Botany" (1840), vol. ii. p. 426. [D] Berkeley, "Introduction to Crypt. Bot." t. 265. [E] Dr. Collingwood, in "Journal of Linnæan Society (Botany)," vol. x. p. 469. [F] In "Hooker's Journal of Botany" for April, 1842. [G] Tulasne, "Sur la Phosphorescence," in "Ann. des Sci. Nat." (1848), vol ix. p. 340, &c. [H] Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in "Gardener's Chronicle" for 1872, p. 1258. [I] Berkeley, "Introduction to Crypt. Bot." p. 266. VI. THE SPORE AND ITS DISSEMINATION.