VARIETIES OF THE FUNGI RACE. 



on the surface of it in little nodules, which, gradu- 

 ally 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 tubes, which ulti- 

 mately become the conductors of the seminal dust, 

 discharged from round, beaked seed-vessels, imbed- 

 ded beneath upon the inner bark. (See Plate 4. 

 Fig. 4.) This plant presents us with a very re- 

 markable instance of the attention of nature to the 

 preservation of minute and little observed things ; 

 the protection of the seed-vessel, and the dissemina- 

 tion, being most particularly and carefully pro- 

 vided for. 



These specimens are only individuals among hun- 

 dreds 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 para- 

 sitic plants, nature having various ways of accom- 

 plishing her purposes ; but only mean to contend, 

 that, in numerous cases, these weak instruments 

 are made use of to accelerate the decay and disper- 

 sion 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 



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

 well with it. 



