00 DECOMPOSITION OF THE BEECH. 
ously constituted agents that accomplish the destruc- 
tion of the foliage of plants. 
The bark, the wood 5 have other deputed powers of 
destruction, many of which are very beautifully fabri- 
cated. To dwell on them would extend too much these 
remarks, designed rather as observations than details ; 
yet I am tempted to introduce two. The sphseria coryli 
of Lamarck (peziza coryli) is occasionally to be found 
in the month of January, and through the winter until 
April, upon old hazel sticks, and engages our attention 
by the regularity of its tubercles. The seed, or first 
principle of production, whatever this may be, by means 
unknown to us, has been fixed upon the inner bark of 
the wood. Gently increasing, it bursts its way through 
the outer bark, which now hangs as a fringe about it ; 
the seed vessels expand, and a dusty substance, being 
most probably the matter that continues the species, is 
dispersed around. A singular plant (sphseria faginea ?) 
is found upon the decayed wood of the beech-tree,* in 
the earlier part of the spring. It appears on the surface 
of it in little nodules, which, gradually uniting and in- 
creasing, form a regular black crust. Upon examination 
we find, that little round bodies have forced a passage 
through the outer bark, and enlarged into small round 
tubes, which ultimately become the conductors of the 
seminal dust, discharged from round, beaked seed 
vessels, embedded beneath upon the inner bark. This 
plant presents us with a very remarkable instance of 
the attention of nature to the preservation of minute 
and little observed things ; the protection of the seed 
vessel, and the dissemination, being most particularly 
and carefully provided for. 
These specimens are only individuals among hun- 
dreds, which present us with a world of beauty, variety, 
and wonder. I would not wish it to be understood that 
it is maintained, by any thing here intimated, that the 
* I am uncertain whether this plant has been noticed. Sphaeria 
granulosa of Sowerby, and sp. tentaculata of Batsch, may be it in a 
young stage of growth ; sp. faginea of Lamarck does not accord well 
with it. 
