242 FUN'GI. MUSHROOMS. 



order Algae. Several species of Confer' va are found 

 to be very beautiful and curious, when examined 

 with a magnifying glass. 



What is called the dry-rot, in wood, is a decay 

 supposed to be occasioned by a peculiar kind of 

 plant, Bys'sus sep'tica, belonging to the order Algge. 

 Though of so light a texture that the breath will 

 disperse it like the finest wool, this little plant, 

 in time, destroys the hardest wood. 



The FUNGI are a very singular tribe. They 

 have, properly, no leaves ; their whole substance 

 being fleshy, generally of quick growth and short 

 duration, and of various degrees of firmness, from 

 a watery pulp to a leathery or even woody texture. 

 Several of the species are poisonous. 



The only kind of fungus that we venture to eat 

 in England, is the Agar'icus campes'tris, or com- 

 mon Mushroom; which is often cultivated in hot- 

 beds, and grows wild in parks and fields, that have 

 been undisturbed by ploughing for many years to- 

 gether. The most splendid of all the mushrooms, 

 Agar'icus xerampeli'nus, is common in Italy, and 

 is brought to the markets there for sale as food ; 

 but it is very rarely found in this country. It is 

 of a beautiful red and orange colour. But the 

 Agar'icus delicio'sus, which also grows in Italy, 

 and has been found in England, is of much superior 

 flavour, and was highly prized as a luxury by the 

 ancient Romans. 



