4. OPHIOTHECA PALLIDA, B. & C. Plasmodiocarp terete, oblong or elongated annular and flexuous, the surface dull, pale ochraceous; the wall a thin pellucid membrane, minutely granulate, with a thin pale ochraceous outer layer, irregularly dehiscent. Capillitium of slender loosely-branched threads, 2-3 mic. in thickness, the surface minutely warted or spinulose. Spores subglobose, pale yellow, 10-12 mic. in diameter. Growing on dead stems of herbaceous plants. Plasmodiocarp .3-.4 mm. in thickness, variable in length, sometimes short and roundish or oblong, sometimes much elongated and flexuous. More delicate than _Ophiotheca vermicularis_, and distinguished by its pallid color throughout. ORDER IV. ARCYRIACEÆ. Sporangia regular and stipitate, rarely sessile; the wall a thin membrane, minutely granulose, colored as the spores and capillitium, the upper part soon torn away in a somewhat circumscissile manner, and early disappearing. Capillitium of slender tubules, repeatedly branching and anastomosing to form a complicated network of evident meshes, more or less expanded after dehiscence; the surface of the threads minutely warted or spinulose or with elevated ridges in the shape of rings, half rings or reticulations. This order is specially distinguished by the threads of the capillitium forming a complicated network of evident meshes. TABLE OF GENERA OF ARCYRIACEÆ. 1. LACHNOBOLUS. Capillitium of slender tubules, quite variable in thickness, proceeding from numerous points of the sporangial wall. 2. ARCYRIA. Capillitium of slender tubules, issuing from the interior of the stipe, the network without any free extremities. 3. HETEROTRICHIA. Capillitium issuing from the interior of the stipe, the peripheral portion of the network bearing numerous short acute free branches. I. LACHNOBOLUS, Fr. Sporangia stipitate or sessile, the wall a thin delicate membrane, minutely granulose, rupturing irregularly. Stipe short or sometimes wanting. Capillitium of slender tubules quite variable in thickness, proceeding from numerous points of the sporangial wall and forming a complicated network, the surface minutely warted or spinulose. Spores globose, yellowish or flesh-color. This genus differs from Arcyria in the capillitium springing from numerous points of the sporangial wall. 1. LACHNOBOLUS GLOBOSUS, Schw. Sporangia globose, stipitate, pale yellow, changing to clay-color; the wall thin and delicate, pellucid, minutely granulose, the upper part torn away and soon disappearing, the lower half more persistent. Stipe short, tapering upward, expanding at the base into a small hypothallus. Capillitium arising from the lower portion of the sporangium, forming a complicated network, the threads 3-5 mic. in thickness, the surface closely covered with minute warts. Spores globose, pale yellow to clay-color in mass, 8-9 mic. in diameter. See Plate I, Fig. 15.