135 



for the circles were too small and too complete, nor could moles make runs upon 

 fine grass-plats without being detected immediately. 



Another fatal objection to the mole theory was the fact that " Fairy rings" 

 were often seen on ground that moles could not work, as on chalk downs, where 

 the rock came close to the surface. And, lastly, not to mention the rings of 

 microscoijic funguses, this theory was utterly untenable if moles were not to bo 

 found in Ireland and Orkney, whilst " fairy rings " were common there. 



It seemed to him exceedingly difficult to give any solution of the causes of 

 their formation. From his observations three years ago, when rings of that 

 large fungus the Ar/aricus Geotropus were very abundant, he measured carefully 

 a ring at Whitfield, and another small section of a ring in a different place there, 

 and both had a diameter of 27 feet. The very next day, at Breinton, he met 

 with the ring he had before alluded to, and, from its giving the same measure- 

 ment, he was led to infer that it was the same fungus, and it turned out to be 

 so, although it did not seem to be so at first sight. These observations with some 

 other ring and measurements of different funguses which he made at that time, 

 together with the fact of the sudden appearance of the Breinton ring at full 

 size, suggested to him the hypothesis that the iindergroimd plant or mycelium 

 had to grow to a certain distance before it bore its fruit. For instance, to keep 

 to the same illustration, that the distance the Geotropus mycelium required 

 to grow, before producing funguses, was thirteen feet six inches. This of course 

 was mere supposition. There was no external indication that it did grow in this 

 way, for the grass within the circles had not been affected. There could be 

 no doubt but that the mycelium of funguses constantly gi-ew in the earth, 

 whether it produced fruit or not. "WTien the season was unfavourable for want 

 of moisture and heat, there were no funguses to prove the existence of the 

 mycelium. When it was favourable, on the contrary, an abundance of all kinds 

 of funguses appeared, shewing that the mycelium was there in readiness to 

 produce fi-uit, each kind in its season and form. He was afraid that at present 

 no more satisfactory answer as to why certain funguses grew in rings could be 

 given, than that "it was their nature so to do." They were very much indebted 

 to Jlr. Lees for biinging this interesting subject before them in the very able and 

 entertaining manner he had done. There was room still for further observation, 

 and he trusted that this was not the last discussion they should hold upon it 

 (applause). 



]\Ir. Lees said that he must claim to say a few words in reply to the 

 various criticisms that had been ^lade in what he had propounded. One of the 

 speakers had said that he must be sore from the basting that he had received 

 from his opponents, but he could say as Homer had said of Hector in the Iliad, 

 after a combat, that he was — 



" Alive, unhiurt, and vigorous from liis wounds." 



All his facts had been left untouched, and though every speaker had attacked 

 the theory he had advanced, yet no one had been able to propose any other 



