2/8 ROMANCE OF LOW LIFE AMONGST PLANTS. 



July and August), and on passing it at night my 

 pony was always alarmed by it. The phenomenon 

 invariably accompanies decay, and is common on 

 oak, laurel, birch, and probably other timbers ; it 

 equally appears on cut wood and on stumps, but is 

 most frequent on branches lying close to the ground 

 in the wet forests. I have reason to believe that it 

 spreads with great rapidity from old surfaces to fresh- 

 cut ones. That it is a vital phenomenon, and due 

 to the mycelium of a fungus, I do not in the least 

 doubt ; for I have observed it occasionally circum- 

 scribed by those black lines which are often seen 

 to bound mycelia on dead wood, and to precede 

 a more rapid decay. I have often tried, but always 

 in vain, to coax it into developing some fungus, 

 by placing it in damp rooms, etc. When camp- 

 ing in the mountains I have caused the natives to 

 bring phosphorescent wood into my tent, for the 

 pleasure of watching its soft undulating light, 

 which appears to pale and glow with every motion 

 of the atmosphere ; but, except in this difference 

 of intensity, it presents no change in appearance 

 night after night. Alcohol, heat, and dryness soon 

 dissipate it ; electricity I never tried. It has no 

 odour, and my dog, who had a fine sense of smell, 

 paid no heed when it was laid under his nose."^ 



Slime Fungl 



The peculiar organisms which have been called 

 "slime fungi" have another and more generally 



' J. D. Hooker, M.D., " Himalayan Journals, etc.," vol. ii. p. 158. 

 (iS55> 



