PLANTS OF THE MOORLAND 107 



plates or "gills" and allows of the scattering of the 

 dust or spores. The whole Toadstool is a spore-mak- 

 ing " fructification," growing from branching threads 

 (the "spawn" or "mycelium") spreading in the soil 

 and feeding on decaying vegetable matter. When 

 the spores are scattered and fall into crevices, they 

 grow into the white threads, which start more Toad- 

 stools. It is necessary, however, to go back for a 

 minute to the bright red Fly Agaric. The gills are 

 not formed quite in the usual way ; they arise as radial 

 plates in the feltwort inside the young dome-shaped 

 head, not as free downgrowths as is usual in Toad- 

 stools of this type. The radial plates are shut in by a 

 felted membrane connected with the stalk; this gets 

 broken when the disc expands; and the remains of it 

 form a down-turned collar round the upper end of 

 the Fly Agaric's stalk. We mention this because the 

 collar here is different from the collar which we have 

 already spoken of on the Common Mushroom. 



There are oases in the moor where some clearing 

 and some differences in the soil or in other conditions 

 have allowed of the growth of thick short grass. 

 Sheep and Rabbits have sometimes helped to make 

 these pleasant spots. We know of one that is sur- 

 rounded by high juniper-bushes making a screen 

 from the wind; the sward is like velvet; it seems like 

 enchanted ground a dancing-place for Titania and 

 her fair retinue. In such places, as well as on the 

 close-cropped links, there are often fine " fairy rings " 

 which may last for many years, becoming gradually 

 larger. A ring, sometimes perfect, sometimes broken, 

 is seen in the grass; it is different in its shade of 

 green from its surroundings. Sometimes we have 



