ON THE STUDY OF MICRO-FUNGI. 363 



tion, still many of them are yet dim enough to render acceptable 

 the smallest light, and around the subject of our present study 

 there is still sufficient darkness to give our sulphur matches an 

 opportunity of letting their light be seen. 



There is a certain fascination in poking about hedgebanks and 

 odd nooks and corners in search of these fungi, knowing that at 

 any moment some new specimen may present itself, or the missing 

 link in the life-history of some species be found. This opportu- 

 nity of turning up fresh soil without very much difficulty should 

 prove a strong recommendation to anyone who wishes to find out 

 something new. The study of micro-fungi should also commend 

 itself to those who desire to take up a subject which will require 

 the use of a microscope, for in it they will find that their favourite 

 instrument is in continual demand ; indeed, that it is an absolute 

 necessity. 



It is, of course, a much pleasanter occupation to search for the 

 fungi which are parasitic upon the leaves and stems of living 

 plants than for those which are to be found only by grovelling 

 among rotting wood and decaying vegetation. A beginner may 

 probably experience some little difficulty at first in finding speci- 

 mens, and will be sure to overlook many which would be seen at 

 once by a more experienced eye. As the fungi are small and 

 many of them inconspicuous, they require to be very carefully 

 searched for, or else they will never be found at all. A hasty 

 observer may cover a great deal of ground in an afternoon's 

 excursion, but, in all probability, he will not secure half so many 

 specimens as the collector who travels no further than a stone's 

 throw from the starting-point, and who carries out the search in a 

 complete and exhaustive manner. 



Most of the fungi we are considering grow on the under- 

 surface of leaves, and therefore^ until some experience has been 

 gained, a considerable amount of time will be spent in diligently 

 turning over the leaves without any specimens being found. Very 

 soon, however, the fungus-hunter will learn to recognise, from 

 certain signs — such as the sickly appearance of the plant, the dis- 

 coloration of the leaf, or the abnormal growth — those plants which 

 are most likely to have a fungus established upon them. Con- 

 tinual practice will soon develop a sharp eye for the most minute 



