LICHENS. IOI 
that of the plane-tree—are also covered with 
these characters. When you remove a piece of 
old bark, the young bark under it exhibits the 
indistinct outlines of characters in a germinating 
state, and what is very singular, these new charac- 
ters are not unfrequently different from those 
which they replace. We examined everything 
with the closest attention, in order to detect some 
trace of trickery, but we could discern nothing of 
the sort; and the perspiration actually trickled 
down our faces under the influence of the sensa- 
tions which this most amazing spectacle created. 
More profound intellects than ours may, perhaps, 
be able to supply a satisfactory explanation of 
the mysteries of this singular tree; but as to us, 
we altogether give it up.” Botanists whose severe 
love of truth overcomes in most cases their 
poetical inclinations, have thrown considerable 
doubt upon this story, even though related by 
missionaries of a respectable character. It appears 
to be in some particulars considerably indebted 
to an ardent imagination, but it may, neverthe- 
less, be true enough in its main facts. Divested 
of its apparent embellishments and exaggera- 
tions, the tree may be found after all to bé only 
an exotic species of plane or sycamore, covered 
with immense patches of the written lichen, which 
—it is well known to botanists—occurs in greater 
