HABITATS OF FUNGI. 33 



in small quantities. When in ahnnclance it is very heantiful, 

 and in hot weather it may he cultivated with great case on 

 rice paste. The growth of these productions is^ however, very 

 capricious, and I have this autumn in vain attempted to cul- 

 tivate it, which is the more provoking, as its real affinities and 

 structure are at present very obscure.^ 



It may be added, in conclusion, that the Fungi \^ hich attack 

 animal substances are for the most part far from nice in their 

 choice of a place of growth, but some which produce disease 

 in animals are attached to particular insects, and a few which 

 grow on decaying hoofs, horns, bones, featliers, wool, or hairs, 

 are never found in any other situations. Leather for a long 

 time seemed to be exempt from any Fungi save the commonest 

 species of Mould, but Messrs. Broome and Currey have lately 

 found a pretty AscoboJus on this substance when exposed to 

 decay. 



* Together witli the blood-rahi, gelatinous spots of a bright yellow, blue, 

 pink, grey, white, etc., often appear on the rice paste, identical in structure 

 with the i*ed. The matter which appears on meat in damp weather seems to 

 be similar. The whole subject requires further investigation. 



