W. H. WEEKESj ESQ 



803 



This experiment was not designed with any reference to my 

 researches on the development of the electrical acari, but swarms 

 of these creatures appeared incidental to its progress, and, at the 

 time the above note was made, many of them were seen inhabiting 

 the miniature forest on the fungus, where they seemed to thrive 

 amazingly, and to attain a larger size than any I have hitherto seen. 



About the autumn of the year 1844, the fungus had extended to 

 the positive side of the arrangement, thus forming a continuous 

 circular band ; and it is not the least remarkable feature of its 

 brief history, that immediately on the completion of this event, 

 the luxuriance and beauty of its vegetation were observed rapidly 

 to decline. A portion of the fungous mass still adheres to the 

 glass, but it is no longer an object of special interest. 



To what extent this singular and beautiful production is indebted 

 to the action of an electric current constantly, and for a long time, 

 traversing the saccharine liquid, in connection with which it ap- 

 peared, I ara not prepared, by the assistance of facts, at present to 

 say, but the following suggestions occur to my mind as strong 

 analogical reasons in support of its electrical origin, nature, and 

 progress. 



1st. I am tolerably conversant with most of the known fungi of 

 this country, but am not acquainted with any species with which 

 the one in question can be identified, or even be said to resemble. 



2d. The glazed earthen jar placed under the porous bottom of 

 the cylinder to catch the filtered liquid, had, at the time the fungus 

 originated, a considerable quantity of dark saccharine matter re 

 sembling concrete molasses therein ; this was suffered to remain 

 as a negative test to the electrical character of the fungus, pre 

 suming the latter to have had its beginning in a portion of sugary 

 deposit derived from the solution through the porous diaphragm , 

 yet, though the surface of the residuum in the earthen jar presented 

 the usual indications of mouldiness, no appearance of a fungoid 

 kind, or that of minute vegetation, could at any time be detected 

 within the unelectrified jar. 



3d. The commencement of the fungus at a point precisely cor 

 responding with the negative pole of the arrangement, its luxuriance 

 and maturity in the intermediate space on the glass cylinder, and 

 its decay on fintlly reaching the positive side, are in themselves 

 facts pleading Wrongly in favor of electrical influence over th« 

 organization of this remarkable species of vegetation. 



W. H. Weeks*. 



Sandw .ch, Stln ^ept., 1845. 

 To the A Uhor *i ' Vestiges of the Natural History jf Creation " 



tux wm. 



