34 A HALF-HOUR WITH THE 



upon a common Spanish nut. This fungus looks like 

 a red powder spread over the surface of the nut. A 

 fungus has been described as attacking the oil- 

 casks in the London docks : its fibres resemble 

 threads of black silk (Fig. 100, PL 4). The spores 

 are found scattered about the fibres. As we have 

 already seen, fungi are found on the human body, 

 and accompany certain forms of disease of the skin, 

 more especially those of the head. In those cases 

 the fungi insert themselves into the follicle of the 

 hair, and introduce themselves into the structure of 

 the hair, so that it either falls off or becomes disor- 

 ganized (Fig. 101, PL 4). If the seed of wheat is 

 allowed to germinate in a damp place, the little 

 rootlet -which it sends down will be found covered 

 over with a minute fungus (Fig. 102, PL 4). 



The microscopic structure of the higher forms 

 of fungi is not without its interest. In the fungi 

 a very elongated form of cellular tissue frequently 

 occurs, and in the stem of the common mushroom 

 it will be seen to be branched (Fig. 103, PL 4). 

 The looser portions of the fibres of the mushroom, 

 which are found in the earth at the bottom of the 

 stem, afford even a better illustration of this struc- 

 ture (Fig. 104, PL 4). The gills of the mushroom, 

 when put under the Microscope, display a number 

 of small projections surmounted with four round 

 cells (Fig. 105, PL 4) ; these are the spores ar- 

 ranged in fours, and which, on that account, are 

 called tetraspores. 



In the woods, in winter time, fungi abound, and 

 their parts may be examined under the Microscope 

 with great interest. Amongst the winter beauties 

 of the forest, none are more attractive than the 

 various forms of peziza, or cup-moulds. If a section 

 be made through one of the cups of these beautiful 

 fungi, they will present the appearance drawn in 



