■*, 



THE GARDENERS 1 CHRONICLE 



De 



c. 



with tlieir difference. In order to be on the safe side 

 every doubtful species should be rejected. 



I must not forget to mention that Withering 

 remarks that only one species of Mushroom is ever 

 concerned in making any one fairy ring. In the 

 case just alluded to I did not find more than one 

 species of Agaricus at one time, although I dis- 

 covered Boletus luridus intermixed as well as 

 within the ring. William Culverwell, Thorp Perrow. 

 [The preceding observations are well worth the 

 attention of all who are experimentalists in esculent 

 Mushrooms. It may be doubted whether the true 

 Agaricus prat crisis be meant, as it could scarcely be com- 

 pared with Agaricus virosus, the former having a 

 turbinate pileus, with thick, distant, buff-coloured 

 decurrent gills, while those of the latter are of a totally 

 different character. Agaricus praterms is beautifully 

 figured in Greville's " Scottish Cryptogamic Flora," and 

 is indeed an excellent fungus. It is a well known fact, 

 that many species frequently occur in the same ring, 

 but not at the same time ; and there is, therefore, some 

 plausibility in the notion that the same mycelium may 

 produce more than one kind. It will be found, however, 

 on close examination, that the mycelium frequently 

 affords excellent characters for the distinction of species, 

 and there is no more reason to infer the identity of 

 Agaricus fgrowing successively on the same spot, than 

 there is for asserting the identity of early and late 

 Grasses.- in the same plot of ground. The mycelium, 

 though frequently small and insignificant, is really the 

 plant; and the pileus, with its stem and gills, the fruit. In 

 some cases, however, the mycelium acquires an enormous 

 development, as in the Amboyna species, figured by 

 Rumphius, and in the well known Pietra funghaja of 

 Italy. Every person who has studied these plants in 

 their native ground is almost as well assured of finding 

 a particular species in its own locality at the proper 

 time of year, frequently confined to a few square feet, 

 as in any other branch of botany, provided the weather 



single cell of t*o varieties had been divided in the 

 Sess of preparing the stock and its scion that 

 &7two half-cells had become completely united so 

 nicely as to form a whole possessed of different 

 character in its constituent parts, and that, from this 

 cell so constituted, a bud had been produced, which 

 was capable of exhibiting, according to the predomi- 

 nance of these parts, the peculiar attributes ^of each 

 variety. This of course is but theory, but it is very 



specious and possible. A , ^ ... 



Some of Turpin's speculations, as that of the 

 development of the sporidium of a Truffle into 

 a new individual, without any direct germination, 

 have been proved on further examination to be 

 incorrect ; it is now well ascertained that 1 ruffles, like 

 other Fungi, are developed from a mycelium spring- 

 ing from the sporidia. A fact, however, has lately 

 come within our cognisance scarcely less wonderful 

 than the development of the Truffle from the 

 u Truffinelles," supposing that to be correct The 

 carious Lasiobotrys, which is 

 not uncommon on the leaves 

 of various species of Honey- 

 suckle, has perplexed many 

 botanists, because the appa- 

 rent perithecia never fructify, 

 but produce a number of mi- 

 nute perithecia from their 



hasp, which contain asm*. Thp 



larger bodies in fact consist of 

 a cellular mass of which the 

 outer cells are dark, while those ^^ Lonicera , 

 of the centre are hyaline, with 

 thick walls. This is exactly the structure of the 

 perithecia of Sphceria when immature, a portion of 

 the central cells in age being absorbed, and those 



nearer the circumference either being transformed and local circumstances are similar. Even in phseno- 



« jt --* *■ -- -- r -- L gamous plants it is well [known that species are more 



into asci, or giving rise to them ; and such is in fact 

 the structure of the smaller cysts in Lasiobotrys, in 

 which alone at present asci have been observed. 

 The curious point is the mode in which these minor 

 perithecia originate from the large original mass. 

 A happy section has exhibited very clearly the 

 transformation of certain of the external cells into 

 these organs of reproduction. The dark external cells 

 atfirst contain a turbid slightly granular mass. This, 

 however, in certain privileged individuals, at length 

 becomes organised, exhibiting at first a few hyaline 

 thick-walled cells. As these increase in size and 

 number, the wall of the cell itself also become cel- 

 lular, just after the fashion of the development of 

 the simple walled cells into cellular sporangia in 

 Antennaria, and finally separates entirely, or retains 

 merely a slight connection by a portion of its sur- 

 face with the parent mass. For some time there is 

 no apparent difference between the two, except as 

 regards size ; but ultimately, a sheaf of utricles is 

 formed towards the base, which soon assume the 

 usual structure of asci. We have represented in our 

 figure, which is highly magnified, the origin of these 

 bodies, which we think highly important in a phy- 

 siological piont of view. M. J. B. 



MUSHROOMS. * 



After reading the paragraph at page 675 relative to 

 the late case of poisoning by Mushrooms, I was induced 

 to examine some remarks which I had made, from time 

 to time, on the changes of a fairy ring near where I 

 am now writing. In the summer of 1 849, 1 was requested 

 to inspect a fairy circle, and was informed that in the 

 previous year it had produced a great crop of fine look- 

 ing Mushrooms, which were gathered and placed in the 

 larder to await the time for cooking them, but in the 

 meanwhile suspicion arose as to their being the true 

 Mushroom, and fthey were destroyed without knowing 

 whether they were really poisonous or not. When I 

 visited the ring in 1849,1 found a fine crop of Agaricus 

 pratensis, which was looked upon with wonder by many, 

 fleeing that such fine Mushrooms had changed to those 

 insignificant Champignons; and for me to say that they 

 were of the same family, and eatable, was considered 



abundant in particular years, and some appear only 

 periodically. Epipactis purpurata was most abundant 

 in a wood whose undergrowth is Tilia parvijlora, a few 

 years since, just after the brushwood was cut, though 

 it had not been seen in the locality before during an 

 acquaintance of 15 years, and it has in vain been sought 

 for since. Under similar circumstances a neighbouring 

 wood was absolutely blue with^the common Columbine, 

 though at other times only a few scattered plants could 

 be found on the most diligent search. Numerous 

 examples of [a like nature might be adduced, and much 

 more, in plants so completely dependent on atmospheric 

 conditions as fungi, may we expect a little irregu- 

 larity as regards the constancy of their appearance. 

 If, however, the species mentioned in the foregoing 

 remarks — substituting probably Ag. oreades for Ag. pra- 

 tensis — be submitted to microscopic inspection, no doubt 

 can be entertained about their complete difference. We 

 may add to the*list as frequent tenants of the same rings 

 as A. oreades and A. arvensis, A.personatus* A. procerus 

 alsoj occasionally grows in them, Jone of the best of 

 esculent fungi. This could scarcely be confounded with 

 A. cristatus, though a fairy ring is a curious station for 

 that species, if. J. BJ] 



, ,. . ,.^ e y were > however, very fine, and made 

 a delicious dish. In 1850 the same ring produced a 

 crop of Agaricus arvensis (by the description given, 

 I considered those in 1848 to have been the £me) 

 many of which I ate, and others I made into ketchup : 

 but this year they have changed into a poisonous kind— 

 Agaricus cnstafcus. 



Where such annual changes as those just mentioned 

 ta*e place, great caution is required in gathering by 

 nersons not well acquainted with the edible kin& of 



gi, although the common Mushroom can hardly be 

 m^taken by the most casual observer, for when of 

 medium size its beauti U pin k or flesh-coloured gills, 



m«fi w 7 fT % °^' ** g° od distinctions 

 When it becomes older, and the colour chants it mav 



however, then be taken for some otheTlSi riE 



in any other part where I have been, and many bear 

 close resemblance to the common Mu shr0 om ? thev 

 are, however, deficient in that very fi ae odour wWc I 

 *o abundant in Agaricus campestris. I have ^ 

 Agaricus virosus very plentiful in fairy ring 8 , a speries 

 which is extremely poisonous, and may,T'a ceSin 



*ge, be taken for A. pratensis by people' tmacqiTntd 







BRITISH SONG BIRDS. 



(Cage Birds, No. 41.) 



No. LVII. — It will readily be believed, that on a sub- 

 ject like the one we are now treating of, there must exist 

 some differences of opinion ; indeed, we have already 

 hinted that the * Philosophers of the new school" are 

 severe upon us for our short-sightedness, and • narrow 

 views/ Be it so. We try to reason logically and as 

 Christians ; and hope to show, by our evenness of 

 temper, that we have no wish to quarrel with any 

 person, however widely we may differ in our thoughts 

 and perceptions of Nature's works. 



The human mind, when once it ventures out of its 

 depth, and dares to soar higher than it has a warrant for 

 — and there surely is a limit to Man's inquiries into the 

 more subtle and intricate works of God in connection 

 with ourselves ; establishes a code of laws, and introduces 

 a new train of visionary ideas, as ridiculous and danger- 

 ous as they are untenable and unsound. Let us listen to 

 the modestly-urged expostulations and sensible remarks 

 of thegood St. Pierre on this subject. " Nature," says 

 he, « is herself the source of all that is ingenious, 

 amiable, and beautiful. By applying to her the violence 

 of our imaginary laws, or by extending to all her opera- 

 tions those with which we are already acquainted, we ! 

 conceal others worthy of the highest imitation with which 

 we are totally unacquainted. We add to the cloud with 

 which she veils her divinity, that of our own errors. 

 They get into credit by time, by professorships, and by 

 books. We carry with us, into researches so inde- 

 pendent and so sublime, the passions of the college and 

 of the world. Those who enter first on the career 

 oblige those who^ come after them to walk in their foot- 

 steps, or to give it up ; as if Nature were their patri- 

 mony ; or as if the study of Nature were an exclusive 

 trade which did not admit of every one's participation ! 

 * * It is the study of some men's whole lives, to raise 

 men towards the Deity by their sublime discoveries,— 

 they little suspecting, that the laws they are endeavour- 

 ing to establish in physics may one day subvert those of 

 morality. In order to form a right judgment of the 

 magnificent spectacle of Nature, we must suffer every 

 object to remain in its place, and remain ourselves in 

 that which she has assigned to us."~ We offer no apology 



for the above admirabl 



6, 



great moral purpose. There are many' iS*? 

 from these dogmas toto ecelo ; and 71 ^ « < _ 

 declare ourselves of the « old schnnl ' i£? , anxic °« to 



not 



resume 



the 



It has been objected to our general remark. «. 

 rook, crow, and other members of that familv ' *** 

 assuredly possessed of reason, and that we m£ T — 

 to the contrary. Now we do not admit thkat. pm < 

 rook and crow, it must be borne in mind » ^ 



ferent from most other birds. Their size and ^ *"* **■ 

 them palpable to the sight of every passer h en<J * 

 quently they require more foresight than thoZ '' 5 

 whose colour assimilates with that of the ero r ^ anImal, 

 particular situation which they are in the hw' ° T ^ 



ot *ier birds, 



ttotionle* 

 within 



001*. 



^ — ^ ^ — y y **»fii Vrj 



when danger is apprehended. You 



I 



foot of them, and never see them. 1 nce f A — " 

 accidentally, on a sloping bank, the nest ofa- \f** 

 hammer ; and I marked the spot. On ^eJlow. 



again 

 young 



o auerwaras, i was reauy puzzled t^ ?H* lt ***J 



. The old bird was on the Test ^ > ^T' 

 I ; and though my eye must several f,w V** 



youug; auu iiiuugu uiy eye must several t,W« V 

 been fixed on her, yet, from her 8t iI, neS8 J^JVl 

 being surrounded by objects corresponding 

 and effect, I was for the time deceived. 



colour 



The rook and crow are generally found upon d1 h A 

 fields ; and are therefore naturally aware that, froSr 

 contrasting colour, they become objects for observation 



Nature, foreseeing this, teaches them by a "uni- 1 

 law " to employ a scout or sentinel, whose duty nlno 

 apprise the general body when anything looks at all 



}> 



suspicious, or uiere is reason ior Becoming alarmed 

 They then at once rise on the wing and decamp. If 

 this were not universally the case, or formed a solitary 

 instance of sagacity, we might, as we have before ob- 

 served, be induced to alter our opinion, — not otherwise 

 They communicate the " signal " by a language peculiar 

 to themselves. Often have we subjected them to a 

 " proof" of this natural law, by raising a stick, shouting 

 or waving our hat ; and we have on every occasion found 

 our belief confirmed. The sentinel has u smoked w us. and 

 has u reported progress. 



The vulture, the eagle, and birds of that tribe know, 

 by an unerring instinct, when and where they can. 

 obtain their prey, safe from pursuit ; and they build 

 their nests in situations for the most part inaccessible. 

 As for the raven, which it is said can see and smell 

 food at an incredible distance, — I believe sight and 

 smell have very little to do with it. This creature is 

 " gifted * by Nature with an instinct far superior to 

 these common perceptions. No sight, no smell, could 

 teach them what we have known them to exhibit iu the 

 matter of foresight. Let us, therefore, exalt Nature in 

 her most bountiful gifts to certain of her family. They 

 are, undeniably, ' extraordinary • endowments bestowed 



for " special " purposes. 



We are again appealed to on the subject of certain 

 birds, in foreign countries ; and are defied to prove that 

 they are not gifted with • reason/ Our opponents are 

 not very clear sighted, but we readily listen to them ; 

 for, as we have before said, to elicit truth is our ordy 

 object. In the matter of some foreign birds, which, 

 build their nests at the extreme ends of branches, and 

 in other equally safe positions, to escape the attacks of 

 serpents, and such-like noxious animals peculiar to India 

 and the East— what do we see but (as I have from 

 the very first laboured to prove) the never-failing, 

 never-ending beneficence of Nature, in providing tor 

 the wants, requirements, and necessities of ^^^ 

 dren, wherever situated. 

 neglect to endow them 1 

 abroad 



forsake 



because 



creation 



indeed ! But the question cannot, must not, be so argu . 

 Everything is better ordered than we could ora er^j 

 how " wise " soever we may consider ourselves jo » 

 show how willing We are to give those whodow m, 

 benefit of every reasonable argument, we subjoin ^ i ^ 

 consideration the following, recorded by Dr. Ul ' tl j e 

 If nature's voice be not audible here, we i ^ ^ 

 sceptics to explain the matter in their own * a J- 

 birds," says Dr. Buchanan, "that build ^gjf "^ 



Comonn 



</i, iiiitriL nine; iiauuaiiuiu 10 u^nux**- —i* 



company. The sagacious little bird fastens 

 to the top of the nest, and then picks up 



a bit of clay 

 fire-fly; 

 t which 



sticking it on the clay 

 consists of two rooms 



that 



four fire-flies; the object of this is, 



light in the little cell should dazzle the eyes o 



ic "**- — 



} f th W* 



OF 



TH# E 



OTHERWISE 



BIRDS. 



" As this is an « universal law,_ v>* ^ 



lated by the brain, or organisation ^^^ern phi- 





to argue with an unbeliever. intioB °^ 



Rather than wait for the natural evoi ^ ^ 



doctrines and views that would suftce io ^ ^^ 

 mysterious powers of life and organisation ^ 



creation, our impatient speculators ^ . % ve e in? 

 plausible supposition, and intrude it by n^ rfd of jiffi- 

 the appearances— thereby attempting to e of nl3 m- 

 culties, and to misrepresent facts, for t^ . ? cTi 

 tuning their own (untenable) position, anu S. day, f 

 for their (misplaced) ingenuity. W, , circuit; 

 observe that this error is becoming f 1 ^/ ion j*^ 

 and we feel quite sure that it must oc ^ 



