328 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



before death; but the membrane itself was diseased, 

 and the surface dead. 



The rapidity with which the germs of the fungi 

 develope themselves is quite as wonderful as the 

 length of time, and the number of dangers, through 

 which they will continue their dormant existence. 

 To spring up ' like a mushroom in a night' is a 

 scriptural mode of expressing celerity, which accords 

 wonderfully with observation. ' I have often,' says 

 Sowerby, ' placed specimens (of the phallus cani- 

 nus) by a window, over night, while in the egg-form, 

 and they have been fully grown by the morning.' 

 He adds, * They have never grown with me in the 

 day-time.' From this and other analogous experi- 

 ments, it is not too wild a speculation to suppose, that 

 if placed in the requisite circumstances as regards 

 temperature, moisture, and absence of light, the 

 whole earth would speedily be overrun with fungi. 



These substances sometimes grow in a singular 

 manner, a remarkable instance of which is furnished 

 in the ' fairy rings,' which are found chiefly upon 

 dry downs, and which are circles perfectly regular 

 when the surface is uniform, but vanishing when 

 they come to gravel or marsh. On these rings an 

 innumerable array of fungi spring up in the latter end 

 of summer. 



When the fungi are in progress the grass withers, 

 and the ring has the appearance of having been 

 trodden by invisible feet: hence its name. The 

 destruction is, however, only temporary; for by the 

 time that the rest of the grass is withered, that on 

 the ' fairy path' becomes green and vigorous, and 

 a new circle is formed, next season, immediately 

 outside. When two rings meet they do not cross 

 each other, but unite and gradually become an oval; 

 but if a circle be interrupted by any small obstacle, 

 such as a tree or a stone, it will unite again on the 



