116 
OF THE FUNGI. 
landlord knows to his cost, crumbles into dust under the 
influence of ‘ dry rot 7 (Merulius lacrymans). Our bread, 
our cheese, our ink, and an infinite number of similar 
household matters — only let the conditions be favourable 
— are quickly overrun with the delicate Fungi, which, in 
common language, are grouped under the name of ‘ mould 7 
(Mucoracese and Botrytacese). A stroll in the garden, or 
a walk through a field, shows us how readily our flowers 
and cereals succumb to the insidious growth of ‘smut 7 
and ‘ brand 7 (Uredinacese). Nor are the members of the 
animal kingdom one whit more exempt from the assaults 
of the common enemy ; while Empusina fixes itself on the 
common house-fly, and Torrubia on a caterpillar,* Muscar- 
dine is the name of a so-called disease which destroys myriads 
of silkworms in sunny Italy, and which is in fact nothing 
but the mycelium of a Fungus (Botrytis bassiana), growing 
within their bodies and consuming their vital powers. 
The most favourable situations, however, for the de- 
velopment of the Fungi are undoubtedly those where 
a moderate degree of dampness is united with an equable 
and not too high temperature. Hence forests and woods 
are certain to provide the collector with abundant material, 
since they are rich in the elements most needed for the 
production of Fungal life ; viz. organic substances in a state 
of decay, shelter from cold biting winds, shade, and 
moisture. For like reasons, old thick hedges, not too 
much exposed to the sun, often abound in crimson Pezizse, 
orange Tremellte, and the curious nest-like Nidularise. 
Warm rains also in the autumn are favourable to the 
growth of this class, so that it is not an unusual thing to 
see astonishing quantities of mushrooms in the fruiterers’ 
shops, or to come across gigantic puff-balls and boleti in 
the woods, at that time of year, when they have been 
quite scarce during the hot summer months. Not that 
the germs depend for their growth on any particular 
* On Plates xvm. xix. (96, 97) are given several examples of 
this singular parasite. 
