FUNGI. 305 
by accident some one should touch it, and be in- 
fected with the disease. As regards their tastes 
the fungi are equally diversified, being insipid, 
acrid, styptic, caustic, or rich and sweet. Some 
have no taste in the mouth while masticated ; but 
shortly after swallowing, there is a dry, choking, 
burning sensation experienced at.the back of the 
throat, which lasts for a considerable time. 
Endless variety of form,so constituted as to secure 
a general uniformity of design and composition, is 
the great characteristic of Divine workmanship ; 
and nowhere is it more strikingly manifested than 
among the lowest orders of plants. It is difficult 
for us to conceive how simply, by a little change of 
arrangement, and a little difference in the amount 
and proportions of materials, such a countless 
variety of objects can be produced,—objects, 
though all composed of the same cellular tissue, 
the same simple substances, yet so different in 
appearance as to seem to have little or nothing in 
common, And yet this is what is presented to us 
in the great order of plants now under review. 
Simple and uniform as is their structure, we have 
seen how extensively diversified they are in 
their specific qualities. They are no less vary- 
ing in their forms. It is difficult to give a true 
comprehensive idea of these varieties without 
entering into specific details. Upwards of 3000 
e 
U 
