VOL. LII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 617 



might be apt to make objections; but luckily he has 2 other fungi, that will 

 serve his purpose better, which are represented by figure the 5th and last. In 

 these the edges of the pileus of one fungus adheres only to the upper surface of 

 the pileus of another, and receives thence all its nourishment. Now, though it 

 may be difficult to account for this strange position, yet Mr. H. thinks the con- 

 sequence this author draws from it does not follow, viz. that fungi differ from 

 other plants as to propagation, and in some other respects. As to propagation, 

 the same answer will serve that was made use of above ; and what further parti- 

 culars, in this instance, deserve notice, will be considered, when Mr. H. comes 

 to his observations on the corollaries he draws from all the fungi represented in 

 his book. 



The corollaries are as follow: i i 



Corol. 1 . That the mode of rise, evolution, increment, and propagation, of 

 fungi, must be of a peculiar kind, and totally different from that which prevails 

 in other kinds of plants. Corol. 2. That what from the analogy of the other 

 plants is called the seed, of the fungi cannot projjerly be called seed. Corol. 3. 

 That there must be such a similarity in all the parts of the fungi, that it is indif- 

 ferent whether any part be placed above or below, whether it communicates or 

 receives nourishment. Lastly, That every fungus, according to his hypothesis, 

 is contained in an entire and perfect state from the beginning in every eggy or 

 as it is called, its seed, and wants nothing but evolution to imbibe the necessary 

 juices. 



These are the corollaries the author draws ; and for a further confirmation of 

 his doctrine, refers to a treatise expressly written on this subject, in which he 

 says, he has made use of such strong arguments, that it would be quite needless 

 to add any thing more in this place. On this Mr. H. remarks, that had he had 

 an opportunity of perusing this treatise, it is possible he might find reason to 

 agree with him , but his arguments must be quite of another nature than what 

 appears here, to make him think these plants exempt from the common laws of 

 vegetables. For as to the supposed difference in regard to rise, evolution, incre- 

 ment, and propagation, which is his first corollary, it has been considered already 

 in part, and will be more fully considered, when he comes to his 3d corollary. 



As to the 2d, viz. that what from analogy is called the seed of the fungi can- 

 not properly be called seed. Mr. H. remarks that he cannot see the least foun- 

 dation for any distinction between the seeds and eggs of plants, the latter of 

 .which terms, he thinks, ought to be used when we speak of the fungi; for 

 those terms are perfectly analogous, by the confession of all the nicest observers 

 of nature; and what is called the eggs in animals goes under the name of seed 

 in vegetables. Thus Linneus says, Philosophia Botanica, p. 88, every living 

 thing come^ from an egg; consequently all vegetables, whose seeds appear to be 



VOL. XI. 4 K 



