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as the tree. They penetrated deep into its substances and received 
from the plant its juices. With the exception of its not possessing true 
roots, it differed in no respect from any other perfect plant, for the 
crude juices obtained from its host were elaborated by the leaves into 
woody fibre, &c., of a different character from that of the tree at 
whose expense it grew. Thin sections, cut through both, showed that 
the cells lay side by side, different in character and not coalescing. 
Of a more minute character were some of the fungi, for, though 
many grew on organisms, they did not make their appearance until death 
and decay had set in ; but some, like the potato fungus, not only grew at 
the expense of but completely destroyed the plant, penetrating to all 
parts of its substance, Other parasitic plants were the orobanches ; 
but lichens simply attached themselves to plants for support. 
Mr. Wonror remarked that to the pseudo-parasites might be 
added the bird's nest orchis (listera ovata), which did not appear to grow 
upon the roots of the beech, but only under beech trees. He had 
never been able-to trace any attachment to the roots, The dodders 
appeared to differ from some of the parasites mentioned, for their 
seeds germinated in the soil and then attached themselves to another 
plant, on which they grew, not only sending rootlets into the substance, 
but twisting and twining round it like the ivy. Hence they had been 
called stranglers, 
Of fungi, which grew on and at the expense of animals, 
might be mentioned those which attacked living flies or moths 
and glued them to, say, a window-pane,—the caterpillar fungus 
of Australia, the fungus foot of India, ringworm, Wc. 
As regarded the mistletoe, there was no doubt the birds were the 
chief agents in its propagation, for it was generally found high up on 
treesand at considerable distances from each other. One very curious 
fact must have been noticed, viz., that its most active period of growth 
was during the winter months, when the trees were said to be 
dormant. Then it was that it flowered and ripened its fruit. 
There had been great difference of opinion whether the mistletoe held 
sacred by the Druids was our viscwm album or loranthus Ewropeus, 
commonly found on oaks in the south of Europe, whereas the former 
was now but rarely found on the oak ; in fact, some, in ignorance of its 
existence, went so far as to deny that it did grow on the oak ; but ex- 
