THE president's ADDRESS. 33 



tion of taking up the subject of " sand," when I had no idea that 

 the scope of my inquiry would lead me very far. But, instead 

 of that, I found that the more I advanced, the wider became 

 my view, and sciences that I had but Httle studied had to be 

 called in to my aid. The ubiquity of quartz in the composition 

 of this globe was but a step in comparison with that which the 

 study might unfold ; and when I thought I might come to a 

 conclusion, it only seemed a first step preliminary to further 

 researches. But this is one of the charms attendant upon 

 microscopical studies. I had noted occasional instances of 

 crystallised forms of geometrical accuracy in the quartz particles, 

 and had laid this subject down for future consideration, when 

 I was diverted into an entirely new walk. This arose from my 

 having obtained from the Trinity House samples of sand from 

 the lightships, chiefly in the German Ocean, immediately off our 

 coasts ; and this led me into one of the most interesting subjects 

 in which I was ever engaged by the microscope, opening up an 

 entirely new field. We are all aware what a large and important 

 family are comprised under the name of Fungi. They are every- 

 where performing work ; perhaps, in many cases, they may 

 be included under what Linnaeus called " servi," those who go 

 before to prepare the way. But often the slave becomes the 

 master, and a potent destroyer. Every housewife knows of the 

 mould that occasionally appears on her preserves. But these 

 apparently simple forms are ever ready to develop as ministers 

 of evil. The potato disease, and that of the vine, which some 

 years ago caused such havoc, was due to fungi ; and many other 

 forms of vegetation are equally attacked. Perhaps the greatest 

 culmination of evil is in the terrible fungus foot of India. But 

 many a house has been brought to ruin by this subtle destroyer. 

 Yet one would scarcely have expected to find that fungi, or their 

 alhes, were to be found excavating into small particles of calcareous 

 sand, and belonging to genera that may be classed amongst the 

 *' moulds," and at two fathoms depth. But, strange to say, 

 though it was a novelty to be thus discovered, and had never 

 before been found in such a variety of forms, yet such operations 

 were not new in the world's history nor in the records of science. 

 In fact, the late Professor P. M. Duncan had found similar in 

 deposits as far back as the Silurian age — a period so illimitable 

 that the mind shrinks from any attempt to compute the myriads 

 JouRN. Q. M. C, Series II., No. 42. 3 



