DECOMPOSITION OF THE BEECH. 



The bark, the wood, have other deputed powers 

 of destruction, many of which are very beautifully 

 fabricated. To dwell on them would extend too 

 much these remarks, designed rather as observa- 

 tions than details ; yet I am tempted to introduce 

 two. The sphaeria coryli of Lamarck (peziza 

 coryli) is occasionally to be found in the month of 

 January, and through the winter until April, upon 

 old hazel sticks, and engages our attention by the 

 regularity of its tubercles. (See Plate 4, Fig. 3.) 

 The seed, or first principle of production, whatever 

 this may be, by means unknown to us, has been 

 fixed upon the inner bark of the wood. Gently 

 increasing, it bursts its way through the outer 

 bark, which now hangs as a fringe about it ; the 

 seed vessels expand, and a dusty substance, being- 

 most probably the matter that continues the spe- 

 cies, is dispersed around. A singular plant (sphaeria 

 faginea ?) is found upon the decayed wood of the 

 beech-tree *, in the earlier part of the spring. It 

 appears on the surface of it in little nodules, which, 

 gradually uniting and increasing, form a regular 

 black crust. Upon examination we find, that 

 little round bodies have forced a passage through 

 the outer bark, and enlarged into small round 



* I am uncertain whether this plant has been noticed. Sphseria 

 granulosa of Sowerby, and sp. tentaculata of Batsch, may be it in 

 a young stage of growth j sp. faginea of Lamarck does not accord 

 well with it. 



