Fig. 10.
A curious fungus-like substance, although not really so, as far as we know. It was brought me from among some fir fire-wood, and appears to be a particular decomposition of the longitudinal fibres of the wood, giving them a white cottony texture, the cross fibres being lost. This seems the same as found by Mr. Jameson in Scotland, which he aptly describes as follows: "The wood having loft its latitudinal cohesion renders it soft; but the longitudinal fibres are strong and tough, so that they are split and twisted to form halters for cattle in Aberdeenshire." I do not know that the remaining white fibres in mine are tough enough for a similar use: they are, however, tolerably strong when in small bundles. The stronger or turpentine part of the wood is nearly equally liable to the same decomposition.
I have pieces of oak, where a similar decomposition has taken place, in regular fpots, about an inch in circumference, with mucor in the centre of each.
A mucus-like substance is sometimes formed in water, on rotten leaves, in vinegar, and on or in ink, and among preserves, &c. if too watery, which, when produced on the surface, have the round dusty head, or other appearances, of Mucor niucedo? or Ligni fragus. The fibres, on examination when dry, seem the same as the stipes of other Mucors when entangled or condensed.
TAB. CCCLXXXVIII.
Fig. I. AURICULARIA persistens. Bull.
I am somewhat doubtful as to this being a species, as it differs very little, if at all, from some varieties of Aurtcularia reflexa, which, in wet and cold seasons, are often purple, and bordered with purple in various ways.
