126 VARIETIES OF THE FUNGI RACE. 



tubes, which ultimately become the conductors of 

 the seminal dust, discharged from round, beaked 

 seed vessels, imbedded beneath upon the inner 

 bark. (See Plate 4, Fig. 4.) This plant presents 

 us with a very remarkable instance of the attention 

 of nature to the preservation of minute and little 

 observed things ; the protection of the seed vessel, 

 and the dissemination, being most particularly and 

 carefully provided for. 



These specimens are only individuals among 

 hundreds, which present us with a world of beauty, 

 variety, and wonder. I would not wish it to be 

 understood that it is maintained, by any thing 

 here intimated, that the dissolution of vegetable 

 matter is effected solely by the agency of insects or 

 parasitic plants, nature having various ways of ac- 

 complishing her purposes ; but only mean to con- 

 tend that, in numerous cases, these weak instru- 

 ments are made use of to accelerate the decay and 

 dispersion of it. 



We are not favourably circumstanced for any 

 great abundance of the race of fungi : the old fir 

 grove, which produces such varieties, and the oak 

 and birch copses, which have shed their leaves for 

 ages, and given rise to many, are not found with 

 us ; yet we have a small scattering too, some of 

 which are perhaps not undeserving of notice ; and, 

 though rather partial to a class which has afforded 



