NATURE OF FUNGI. 11 
them, as a spider does its prey, with a fibrous net of narrow 
meshes, which is gradually converted into an impenetrable 
covering. While, however, the spider sucks its prey and leaves 
it lying dead, the fungus incites the alge taken in its net to 
more rapid activity; nay, to more vigorous increase.” This 
hypothesis, uslicred upon the world with all the prestige of the 
Professor’s name, was not long in meeting with adherents, and 
the cardinal points insisted upon were—Ist. That the generic 
relationship of the coloured “ gonidia’” to the colourless fila- 
ments which compose the lichen thallus, had only been assumed, 
and not proved; 2nd. That the membrane of the gonidia was 
chemically different from the membrane of the other tissues, 
inasmuch as the first had a reaction corresponding to that of 
alge, whilst the second had that of fungi; 8rd. That the 
different forms and varietics of gonidia corresponded with 
parallel types of alge; 4th. That’ as the germination of the 
spore had not been followed further than the development of a 
hypothallus, it might be accounted for by the absence of the 
essential algal on which the new organism should become para- 
sitic; 5th. That-there is a striking correspondence between the 
development of the fruit in lichens and in some of the sporidii- 
ferous fungi (Pyrenomyceles). 
These five points have been combated incessantly by lichen- 
ologists, who would really be supposed by ordinary minds to be 
the most practically acquainted with the structure and develop- 
ment of these plants, in opposition to the theorists. It is a fact 
which should have some weight, that no lichenologist of repute 
has as yet accepted the theory. In 1873 Dr. E. Bornet* came 
to the aid of Schwendener, and almost exhausted the subject, 
but failed to convince either the practised lichenologist or 
mycologist. The two great points sought to be established are 
these, that what we call lichens are compound organisms, not 
simple, independent vegetable entities ; and that this compound 
organism consists of unicellular algw, with a fungus parasitic, 
upon them. ‘The coloured gonidia which are found in the 
* Bornet, (E.), ‘‘ Recherches sur les Gonidies des Lichens,” in ‘ Ann. des Sci. 
Nat.” 1873, 5 sér. vol. xvii. 
