24 OUTLINES OF BRITISH FUNGOLOGY. 



supported iu this view by Fries^ than whom no one is more 

 eminent for tact and nice discrimination, it is right that I 

 shoukl not speak too positively, as the two brothers Tulasne, 

 wlio have contributed so much to our knowledge of Fungi, 

 incline rather, as it should seem, to De Bary's views, which 

 they corroborate in some degree by the fact that many of these 

 productions contain in their outer coat such a notable quantity 

 of carbonate of lime, that a strong effervescence takes place 

 on the application of sulphuric acid. 



Setting, however, the Myxogastres aside, there is now no 

 question as to the rest. As regards mere substance and 

 duration, undoubted Phmnogams vary almost as much as 

 Fungi themselves, while one or two groups of Phcenogams, as 

 Rafflesiacece and Balanophorce, of which an example is given 

 (Plate 2, fig. 8), approach in form, substance, parasitic growth, 

 comparative simplicity of structure, etc., in many respects to 

 Fungi. But notwithstanding such peculiarities, they are as 

 truly Phcenogams as plants of other Orders, while in Fungi 

 there is a character which we believe is wholly without exam- 

 ple amongst Phanogams, viz. that they absorb oxygen when 

 exposed to light, and give out carbonic acid, in which parti- 

 cular they resemble animals. 



As regards the second point, whether the species are as 

 definite as in other acknowledged parts of the Vegetable King- 

 dom, I answer without a moment's hesitation that there is 

 in most cases far less diflficulty in determining the limits of 

 species. Amongst the Polypori, indeed, the limits are often 

 very difficult to recognize, but if we take the large group of 

 Agarics and its allies, with a few exceptions only, it may 

 without doubt be asserted that more certain species do not 

 exist in any part of the organized world than amongst Fungi. 

 The same species constantly recur in the same places, and 



