Can you solve a mystery?

Yesterday, John and Peggy Koney of Ringwood stopped by the Meadowlands Environment Center with a strange object they had found on their lawn under a tree. It resembled a very small brown derby, closed top and bottom, clearly hollow — it was as light as a feather.

The Koneys wondered what it could be.  So do we, though we suspect it might be some sort of insect nest. One theory they had heard was that it was some sort of puffball fungus.

Can anyone help?  Just post your answer in the "Comments" section below.