PHILOSOPHICAL 
TRANSACTIONS. 
VII. On Fairy-rings. By^W. H. Wollaston, M. D. Sec. R. S, 
Read March 12, 1807. 
T he circles of dark-green grass frequently observed in old 
pastures, and known to most persons by the name of Fairy- 
rings, although in themselves of no importance, yet seem to 
claim some attention, if weconsider the many ingenious attempts 
that have been made to explain their origin. On such a sub- 
ject I shall be excused offering any examination of opinions 
previously formed by others, and shall therefore proceed 
briefly to relate such observations as I made, during a fewyears 
residence in the country, on the progressive changes of these 
circles, and which seem to me to lead to a clear and satisfactory 
conclusion. 
That which first attracted my notice, was the position of 
certain fungi which are always to be found growing upon these 
circles, if examined in a proper season. In the case of 
mushrooms, I found them to be solely at the exterior 
margin of the dark ring of grass. The breadth of the ring 
MDCCCVII. T 
