304 FIRST FORMS OF VEGETATION. 
various. Like the ferns they all possess a pecu- 
liar odour by which they may be easily recognised, 
although it is somewhat different in different in- 
dividuals, some smelling strongly of cinnamon 
and bitter almonds, others of onions and tallow, 
while others yield an insupportable stench. The 
foetid charnel-house smell of the common stink- 
horn (Phallus impudicus) may be felt at a distance 
of several hundred yards, when the wind is blow- 
ing in one’s direction, and leads infallibly to its 
detection, when otherwise it might escape obser- 
vation, covered, as it usually is, with leaves and 
broken sticks. Like putrid meat it attracts flies, 
which are always buzzing about its head; and a 
few individuals are sufficient to make a whole 
wood intolerable. Bad as this species is, there is 
another, if possible, in still worse odour—the 
Clathrus, which is very rare in the southern parts 
of our country, although abundant on the Conti- 
nent. Like the curious leafless Stapelia, it dif- 
fuses a most loathsome stench, which is utterly 
insupportable at close quarters. This, with its 
bright, coral-red network springing out of a white 
gelatinous volva or egg, has originated the popu- 
lar superstition among the peasants of the Landes, 
that it is capable of producing cancer; and hence 
they cover it carefully over with leaves and moss 
when they come across it in the pine-woods, lest 
