4 AO 
THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
Fig. 2. 
Fig. 2. Section through a newly formed ring. 
a. Vigorous grass fed from the vacant ground c. 
b. Outer ring of poorer grass, which may or may not be 
occupied by fungi. 
In these diagrams fig. 1 shows the form of the double or 
most perfect fairy-ring, as it may he seen in March or April, 
with an inner greener ring, occupied by strong-growing 
grass, and an outer or brown ring, in which much grass is 
dead. Towards the middle of May the outer ring becomes 
rich with strong growing grass, between which, and hidden 
by it will be found the Agaricus gambosus. 
Fig. 2 shows a section through a ring of this kind, in which 
the strong grass at a is marked above the soil, while at b will 
be seen the Mycelium below the soil. 
This, then, is a ring which increases centrifu gaily, and the 
fungus is the cause of the increase. Such rings may be very 
old as they continue ; but there is reason to think that rings 
to which the fungi have not become attached soon break up, 
and are lost sight of. 
In the cases above described the grasses are all of nutri- 
tious kinds, the prevailing one being the Lolium ptrenne , 
perennial rye grass, and the consequence is, that the vigour 
given to its growth causes a curious appearance when our 
field is aimed up for hay, as the heavier crop of greener 
grass makes a complete circle of prostrate herbage. When, 
however, it is depastured, the sheep keep the circles so closely 
cropped, that the rings are marked by the fresh green of 
newly springing grass ; and when these animals are first put 
into a field they fly to the rings, which they eat off before 
any other part of the field. This observation is so opposed 
to the idea expressed by Shakespeare, in which he has been 
followed by our friend Mr. Lees, that we cannot forbear 
quoting the passage, together with Mr. Lees* notes thereupon, 
in order the more fully to explain this curious and interesting 
natural history subject. Shakespeare says — 
“You demy-puppets 
That do by moonshine green sour ringlets make, 
Whereof the ewe bites not 
“ Here/'* says Mr. Lees, our “ great bard alludes to the 
current belief of the times in which he lived,” and also men- 
tions a rural fact, that we may suppose came under his par 
