52 On the Fungi Growing in Mines. 



used to grow in tlie tunnels, I think we may safely take it 

 for gi'anted that fungi are, or were, deleterious to weak lungs. 

 The next question then is how to get rid of them ? The 

 manager of the Long Tunnel at any rate has answered this 

 question, to a certain extent, in a very practical way, for his 

 repairs have nearly extirpated the fungi from some of the 

 levels. But if we turn again to professor Berkeley's " Outlines," 

 we find the following : " The rapidity with which spawn 

 penetrates, and the depth to which it enters, is often quite 

 surprising. The most solid timber in a few months will 

 sometimes show unequivocal traces of spawn. I have seen, 

 for instance, elm trunks which were perfectly sound when 

 felled, penetrated by the end of the second year with spawn 

 to within a few inches of the centre ; and in this case it 

 must be remembered that vegetation goes on in the trunk 

 for nearly a twelvemonth before any fungi can establish 

 themselves." Now it is simply absurd to suppose that a 

 mining company could keep on constantly renewing timber 

 to keep down these destructive pests. Several gentlemen 

 belonging to our Society suggested painting the timber with 

 certain acids, and I intended to try this plan at Walhalla, 

 but my short stay prevented me ; however, I have asked 

 the manager, Mr. Ramsay Thomson, to paint certain marked 

 posts with different acids, and so find out which is the best, 

 and I have little doubt that he will accede to my request. 

 The following remedies are mentioned by Berkeley — salt, 

 lime, sulphate of copper, corrosive sublimate, and arsenic. 

 If we are fortunate enough to hit on a really good and cheap 

 remedy, we will not only be able to show how to extirpate 

 an enemy to human life, but also to ofier a premium to mine 

 owners to use the remedy, for if the fungi in mines can be 

 destroyed the timber will most certainly last twice as long. 



Art. V. — On the Production of Colour in Birds' Eggs. 

 By A. H. S. Lucas, M.A. Oxon., B.Sc. Bond. 



[Eead May 12, 1887.] 



The question of the cause of the coloration of birds' eggs 

 has often been referred to, but has not, to my knowledge, 

 been adequ.ately treated of in any work on Oology. Perhaps 



