60 Caricography. 



cases in practical mechanics, in which a construction simi- 

 lar to this might be adopted with advantage ? 



Thus, if I am not mistaken, (and I have taken much 

 pains to attain the truth on the subject,) we find in this 

 mere fungus, which, to the passing traveller appears to be 

 a disgusting mass of half decayed vegetable matter, such 

 evidence of contrivance and design, as is calculated to lead 

 the thoughts irresistibly to a Great First Cause. How 

 pleasant to meet with such mementos of Divine Wisdom 

 where least expected ! They remind the naturahst, that 

 however far removed in his excursions from human society, 

 he is still within the circle of Omniscience. 



Art. XI. — Caricography ; (continued ;) by Professor C. 

 Dewey, Williams College. 



f Communicated to the Lyceum of Natural History of the Berkshire Medi- 

 cal Institution.] 



24. Carex mullijiora. Muh. 



Muh., Pursh, Eaton, Persoon No. 74. 

 Schk. tab. LU. fig, 144. 

 C. microsperma. Wahl. No. 30, and Rees' 

 Cyc, No. 54. 



Spicis alternis approximatis bracteatis sessilibus ; spi- 

 culis superne masculis ovato-oblongis obtusis bracteatis 

 conglomeratis, fructibus ovatis acuminatis compressis 

 dense imbricatis bifidis trinervosi? divergentibus, squama 

 ovato-cuspidata paul© minoribus. 



Culm erect, 16 — 24 inches high, scabrous above, 

 rather obtusely triangular, nearly round and leafy 

 towards the base ; leaves narrow, linear, channelled, 

 shorter than the culm, sheathed towards the base ; sheaths 

 transversely rugose opposite the leaf; spike decompound, 

 often more than two inches long ; spikelets many, clus- 

 tered into several larger spikelets, growing yellow ; bracts 

 long, leafy, scabrous and filiform under the spikes, and 

 short, setaceous under the spikelets ; stigmas two ; fruit 

 ovate, acuminate, bifid, scabrous on the margin^ rather 



