OF BRITISH FUNGI. 7 



pletely lifted out of their beds by the growth of large 

 toadstools beneath them. One of these stones measured 

 twenty-two inches by twenty- one, and weighed eighty- 

 three pounds, and the resistance afforded by the mortar 

 which held it in its place would probably be even a 

 greater obstacle than the weight. It became necessary 

 to repave the whole town in consequence of this 

 remarkable disturbance. A similar incident came under 

 our own notice, of a large kitchen hearthstone which 

 was forced up from its bed by an under-growing 

 fungus, and had to be relaid two or three times, until at 

 last it reposed in peace, the old bed having been removed 

 to the depth of six inches, and a new foundation laid. 

 A circumstance recorded by Sir Joseph Banks is still 

 more extraordinary, of a cask of wine which, having 

 been confined for three years in a cellar, was, at the 

 termination of that period, found to have leaked from 

 the cask and vegetated in the form of immense fungi, 

 which had filled the cellar and borne upwards the 

 empty wine-cask to the roof. 



It is a curious fact in connection with the growth of 

 these singular plants, that, while Phanserogams absorb 

 carbonic acid from the atmosphere, and respire oxygen, 

 in this instance the order is reversed, and carbonic acid 

 gas is given off. It is believed that the absence of 

 green colouring matter, with the exception in some few 

 instances of a kind of mineral green, is due, in part, 

 to this reversal of transpired gases. One thing is 

 certain, that in flowering plants light is absolutely 

 essential not only to the growth and healthy condition 



