LESSONS IN BOTANY. 199 



They attack many kinds of insects, as flies, wasps, beetles, 

 spiders, butterflies, etc., in some cases causing their death. Fish 

 are subject to attack from fungi. As saprophytes fungi are 

 doubtless in many cases beneficial; but they promote the decay of 

 timber, whether in the house, ship, bridge, furniture, or the piece 

 thrown aside as useless. Without going into further detail it 

 seems clear that Bacteria, Fungi and Algae are important mem- 

 bers of the vegetable kingdom , that they are present everywhere, 

 and that their general effect is to disintegrate and destroy the 

 more highly organized groups of plants and animals. 



