THE STORY OF THE FUNGI i43 



The strange Stinkhorn associates its minute 

 spores with a strong-smeUing secretion which 

 seems to be very attractive to flies. In de- 

 vouring the slime the insects swallow the 

 spores as well, and these are finally dis- 

 tributed over a wide area. It is also known 

 that slugs play a part in dispersing the spores, 

 seeing that these creatures show a strong 

 liking for certain fungi, notably some kinds 

 of Agaric. The spores seem to be well able 

 to withstand the digestive juices, and are 

 ready for germination when they have passed 

 through the body of the slug. Squirrels, rab- 

 bits, and other small animals are known to 

 carry about the spores of certain fungi in their 

 fur, and in this way act as useful agents. 



Several points in the growth of fungi seem 

 to call for special comment. One of the things 

 which the casual observer is bound to notice is 

 the rapidity with which certain species grow. 

 It is not an uncommon experience to find that 

 large and well-developed fungi have grown up 

 in a single night where previously there was no 

 sign of them. The Stinkhorn fungi, which 

 start life (so far as the reproductive process 

 is concerned) in a curious egg-like receptacle, 



