132 CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI. 



Creator of all has everywhere indulged in. All the Sphse- 

 rise apparently serve the same end in the economy of na- 

 ture, viz. of hastening the reduction of vegetable matter 

 to its original dust ; and that purpose, we may suppose, 

 might have been effected as easily by an increase in the 

 numbers of one, as by the creation of a multitude of spe- 

 cies. It has, however, seemed good that it should be other* 

 wise, and it is very probable that those little but perma- 

 nent differences which characterize the species, are accom- 

 panied with variations in the operation of the plants, im- 

 portant in their results, although to us unapparent. In the 

 present instance, we can scarcely look on this great variety 

 as auxiliary to the beauty of earth's surface, for, with 

 scarce an exception, the Sphserise are so diminutive as to 

 require the practised eye of the botanist for their detection. 

 He finds in the examination of their structure, a pleasing 

 and agreeable spectacle, and so much curious design and 

 constancy as are quite subversive of hypotheses implying 

 spontaneous generations or formative powers of nature as 

 necessary to account for their production. If I may judge 

 from my own experience, it is, in fact, in these " minims 

 of nature," that we are most strongly impressed with the 

 conviction of the existence of a First Great Intelligent 

 Cause ; and are most ready to admit that his works are 

 "wonderful, and made in wisdom. 



67. DOTHIDEA. 



OBS. In Sphceria the seminiferous pulp escapes without any 

 laceration of the capsules, which often remain for a considerable 

 time after they have emptied themselves of their contents. But 

 in Dothidea the discharge of the pulp can only be effected by the 

 destruction of the cells, which appear to have no natural aperture. 

 The species are of a black colour, parasitic on leaves. 



1. D. Ulmi, cells clustered ; clusters scattered, subcircular, rai- 

 sed, black, the surface dotted or granular ; interior black with 

 white cells. GREV. Crypt. Fl t. 200. f. 1. Sphceria ulmaria, Sow. 

 Fung. t. 374. f. 3. Sp. Ulmi, MOUG. and NEST. No. 766. Stro- 

 matospharia ulmaria, GREV. Fl. Edin. 357. 



Hob. On the upper side of dead elm leaves. 



2. D. Robertiani, subgregarious, hemispherical, minute, smooth, 

 glossy black, white within. GREV. Crypt. Fl. t. 146. f. 1. Cryp- 

 tosphceria nitida, Fl. Edin. 363. 



