300 PLANTS USED BY INDIANS OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CAL. 
Indians for food in times of famine. The same use formerly pre- 
vailed among the more northerly tribes, the Wailaki, of Round Valley. 
It grows very abundantly on the pines and firs of Mount Shasta. 
Evernia vulpina (L.) Ach. 
Ol-git'-i (Yuki).—The bright lemon-yellow lichen, known as yellow 
‘moss,’ which is common on fences, the bark of old trees, and more 
particularly on decaying logs. It was formerly used to a small extent 
as a bedding material. A thick decoction was also used in former 
times by the Yukis as a kind of paint, but no particular use appears 
to have ever been made of it here for dyeing purposes. It has 
always been considered very valuable by the Yukis and Wailakis 
for the purpose of drying up running sores and to relieve the accom- 
panying inflammation. Its value in this regard was well corroborated 
by Mr. C. M. Brown, the gentleman who had charge of the Indians at 
the Government sawmill at Round Valley. 
Usnea lacunosa Tuckerm. 
The common grayish-green lichen which so abundantly drapes the 
slender branches of the great, wide-spreading valley oak (Quercus 
lobata) adds much to their weird beauty. Under the name of ‘* moss” 
it is sometimes gathered for use as a bedding material. 
LYCOPERDACEAE. Puffball Family. 
Lycoperdon sp. 
Me-én" chip" -d-so’’ (Yuki).—The common puffball, or devil’s snuff- 
box, which was observed growing very plentifully on the ground 
after a prolonged rain storm in May, 1898, All of the Indians disclaim 
any knowledge of its really edible qualities. 
The leathery outer covering of the same or a similar species was seen 
in 1892 by the writer in the possession of an Indian medicine man, 
who used it along with other highly prized paraphernalia in his pro- 
fessional outfit. Several skins, each containing pieces of gravel, were 
securely fastened to a small stick, and this instrument was used to 
make a peculiar, rattling sound. It is well known that when fully 
mature the spores of this plant are discharged from its interior in the 
form of an impalpable, smoke-like powder. It does not seem at all 
unlikely that this character has led the Indians to look upon it with 
superstition. ‘The spores ure used to some extent to dry up running 
Sores. 
POLYPORACEAE. Bracket Fungi. 
Polyporus sp. 
Ka-la’ cha'-a (the ch explosive) (Calpella). A wood-like fungus 
which grows on the base of alder trees and on logs. It was described 
as being brown on top, white underneath, and hard and smooth all over 
