FUNGI AND LICHENS. 1 21 



and recognise, there are ten, nay, a hundred, of the 

 minute microscopical forms which demand the use 

 of the microscope for their investigation. 



It may be added that, as a rule, fungi do not 

 grow on the bark, branches, or twigs of living trees. 

 It is only in very rare cases that fungi are developed 

 in that condition, and it should be borne in mind 

 when hunting for them in a wood that growing trees, 

 and branches recently cut and sound, will not afford 

 fungi, but they will furnish lichens, of which anon. 

 Fungi are. the consequences of decay and putre- 

 faction. Wherever there is a close, damp atmo- 

 sphere, which fosters decay, there will be found the 

 mould and the mildew. In this instance we have 

 death, decay, resurrection into a new life, illustrated 

 in the new forms and new species which succeed 

 and flourish upon the disintegrated and crumbling 

 remains of forms that have passed away. 



There is still another kind of vegetation, of a 

 humble character, but still different from anything to 

 which we have referred, and sufficiently common all 

 the world over not to permit of exclusion. These are 

 called Lichens, and although some people may still 

 be found who call them " a sort of moss," such 

 errors are becoming comparatively rare. There is a 

 crude sort of rhythmical description of them in the- 

 lines, 



" Some are reddish, some brown, some grey, and some black, 

 And they're pucker'd, edged, button'd, or fringed, front and 



back; 



Some are lying like leather close under your feet, 

 Some waving from trees in the forest you'll meet." 



