274 ROMANCE OF LOW LIFE AMONGST PLANTS. 



Berkeley, in 1848, expressed the opinion that the 

 Mylitta was closely allied to the common truffle, 

 but we fail to recognize the evidence on which 

 he so regarded it, and now know that he was in error. 

 Tulasne, on the contrary, appears to regard its 

 affinities with sclerotium, whilst neither Tulasne, 

 Corda, Berkeley, nor any of the most distinguished of 

 mycologists who have closely examined this sub- 

 stance, have found structure at variance with or in 

 advance of Sclerotiuw. In support of this view the 

 discovery of the above-named species of Polyporus 

 upon the Mylitta may be cited, as certain Perjizce 

 are developed on small species of Sclerotium. 



Touchwood. 



In our schoolboy days we have still a vivid recol- 

 lection of first becoming acquainted with "touch- 

 wood," perhaps only a local name, but one which was 

 applied to soft rotten wood which possessed lumi- 

 nosity. Boys are apt to pick up and remember 

 traditions of such phenomena, and we had often 

 heard of marvellous properties of " touchwood," and 

 therefore recognized it at once from the description. 

 It was the hollow of an old tree into which v/e had 

 penetrated, as a hiding-place from our fellows, some 

 dark evening, and were surprised upon discovering 

 that the chips when disturbed exhibited a distinct 

 pale phosphorescent light. Naturally we took such 

 pieces as exhibited the luminosity most strongly, and 

 pocketed them for further experiment. When in bed 

 the " touchwood " was taken from our pockets and 

 tested, under the bedclothes, after the lights had been 



