AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FUNGI. 263 
fulness can be; he will be able to make many a valuable addition 
to his own knowledge, and confirm the opinions of others, or con- 
fute them by noticing what he sees; he will get a gradual, steady 
progression from one form to another, from one order to another, 
until he finds that the works of God ramify in every direction, and 
are all in themselves perfect. There is a rich fund of science 
amongst the Fungi coupled with pleasure to the man who merely 
takes his microscope and examines slides under it; but the micro- 
scope need not be used merely as a medium of looking at a pretty 
thing. The adjunct of a camera will prove of great service, draw- 
ings can be made, and if made always to one uniform scale of 
considerable magnitude, the Fungi when drawn will present vege- 
table shapes vieing with, probably exceeding, the numerous forms 
of the higher order of plants. When the sketch be made, the 
draughtsman may use his talent with the paints and the brush, 
and drive care and idleness away by colouring the magnified 
drawing on paper from the object still visible under the instrument. 
But suppose there be no microscope, and that the privileges just 
named are not easily attained, if such a thing be possible in these 
days when first-rate instruments are to be purchased at so low a 
price ; well, of course, a great loss is sustained, perhaps not capable 
of appreciation, because the luxury has not been within reach. 
Even then there are in Fungi forms so large and so numerous 
too that at a rough estimate one-third of the British Fungi need 
no more for examination than the unassisted eye. Nor should it 
be forgotten that the present extensive use of the microscope is of 
recent date, that the pioneers of mycology had nothing like the 
advantages we have, and to the honour of some of them be it said, 
they surprise us who try to aspire to their knowledge, by having 
accurately classified specimens, that we cannot do as they did, 
because we have microscopes. Hence none need despair. ‘There 
is such a vast field of work before us all, that the Fungi may be 
worked with and without the microscope, the whole range may be 
studied at once, or it may be divided, or even sub-divided, and 
there will be much to do for a life time. 
See, too, the advantages as to the study of Fungi from their 
being within reach of every one. If you have a garden attached 
to your house, there you are certain to find specimens. Is your 
house damp ?—very damp ?—your wall paper will supply you with 
an object to examine—possibly three, four, or more from the same 
strip of paper. The linen hanging up in your cupboards will sup- 
ply you, if not moved occasionally. Keep your cheese until it gets 
decayed, there will be something to admire in it. Put your hazel 
nuts away, then see in course of time the beautiful pink that grows 
on them. Look at your apples, those somewhat warty-like spots, 
there you are again. The panes of glass are frequently attacked 
