246 AUGUST. 



leaving one of bare rich mould between them. The 

 origin of these circles too, which hitherto has 

 escaped the eyes of the naturalist, but which is 

 nothing more than a small mushroom-bed, made by 

 the dung of cattle lying undisturbed in the grass 

 where first deposited, till it becomes completely 

 incorporated with the soil beneath, favours, more 

 than all, the theory of the fungi. Every one 

 knows that where this occurs, a tuft of rank grass 

 springs up, in the centre of which a crop of fungi 

 sometimes appears, and again perishes. There then 

 is the nucleus of a fairy-ring. The next year the 

 tuft is found to have left a green spot, of perhaps a 

 foot and a half in diameter, which has already 

 parted in the centre. This expansion goes on from 

 year to year ; the area of the circle is occupied by 

 common grass, and successive crops of fungi give a 

 vivid greenness to the ring which bounds it. That 

 only a few tufts are converted into fairy-rings, may 

 be owing to their not being sufficiently enriched to 

 become mushroorn-beds ; but that all fairy-rings 

 which exist have this origin, will be found to admit 

 of little doubt. This, though true, is nevertheless a 

 humiliating expose of the charmed fairy-rings ; but 



Do not all charms fly 

 At the mere touch of cold philosophy ? 

 There was an awful rainbow once in heaven; 

 We know her woof, her texture ; she is given 

 In the dull catalogue of common things. 

 Philosophy will clip an angel's wings ; 



