LICHEXS. 231 



The Stereocaulon family very much resemble the pre- 

 ceding one, but here the apotheciae are flat. The stem 

 of the Common Stereocaulon is rough, shrub-like, and 

 beset with lateral branches, and crowded hoary foliage. 

 It grew upon the rocks on the hills about Oban in great 

 luxuriance, attaining two inches in height, and bearing 

 numerous blackish apotheciae (S. paschale, Plate XVI., Jig. 

 9). It is a clumsy little plant, with thick stem and crowded 

 branches ; these are not hollow, but solid, hence its 

 name. It abounds on mountains, and its receptacles are 

 flat and sessile. It grows in high latitudes, along with 

 the Rein-deer lichen, and the animals feed on it if their 

 favourite lichen fails. There are several other species of 

 solid-lichen, all more minute than the branched one, and 

 chiefly inhabitants of Scotland. 



And here on these sea-washed cliffs, as well as at the 

 Cheesewrino;, and Starveo'oose, and on the Yorkshire 

 moors, grew the Eein-deer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina, 

 fig. 11). It forms a white undergrowth beneath the 

 heath and ling, or it covers dry plots with its interlaced 

 branches. A pretty miniature tree, with round sessile 

 borderless receptacles, it can endure any amount of heat 

 and cold ; even surviving the fires which so often burn 

 up the heath. The Laplanders give thanks to God for 

 this lichen, according to Linnaeus. " A bounteous Pro- 

 vidence sends us bread out of the very stones," they say. 

 It is truly a great gift to them, for it supports their deer, 

 and is eaten, when cooked, by themselves. What a lesson 

 of gratitude to us ! Do we thus heartily acknowledge 

 the profuse gifts for convenience, and even luxury, with 



