66 THE WOOD. 



by the scent. Several species are found in mea- 

 dows growing in circles. Fairy rings are caused 

 by the luxuriance of the grass in ground rendered 

 productive by the decay of Fungi, which originally 

 grew in the centre, and gradually extended in a 

 circular manner, adding their decomposed sub- 

 stance to the soil. One species is found only on 

 the bodies of dead flies ; another comes to maturity 

 only on the inside of grains of wheat, when it is 

 called Rust; another is very frequently sent to 

 table (and in this case you may perhaps swallow 

 some hundreds of plants at a mouthful without 

 being aware of it) in the form of mould of cheese. 

 These vegetables, though the principal, are not 

 the only agents employed in converting fallen 

 leaves and dead wood into a substance adapted 

 to the reproduction of plants. Many kinds of 

 snails and other small land-shells find among the 

 faded honours of the forest both shelter and food ; 

 numbers of minute beetles also assist, and innu- 

 merable other insects are everywhere busily em- 

 ployed in the same work ; so that you can scarcely 

 take up a particle of decayed vegetable matter 

 without discovering in it evidences of the presence 

 of active life, supported not merely on its own 

 account, but having a definite object assigned to 

 it, which, though not readily apprehended by the 

 uninquiring mind, (especially when considered as 

 a single existence,) is, when collectively estimated, 

 of vast importance in preserving the balance of 

 nature. The very mould which attaches itself to 

 the dried specimens in your herbarium, and the 

 troublesome little beetle which perforates the 

 cabinet containing them, are instruments ap- 

 pointed by Providence for the restoration of ma- 



