48 DECADES OF FUNGI, 
the genus Boletus, are used as food by the natives, and di- - 
rectly supply no inconsiderable portion of their support for - 
several months in the year; but since I began to make my . 
collection with the intention of sending them to you, I have 3 
often been surprised at the large number of fungi that are - 
eaten by almost the whole of the marsupial animals. Of many — 
species, I am satisfied that scarce a hundredth part escapes : 
them; so assiduous are they in watching them, that of seve- — 
ral sorts which are common in the ground, they rarely allow — 
one to appear above the surface. They are directed to them 
apparently by smell and the cracking of the ground over — 
them, and dig them up and devour them, leaving only some — 
fragments to tell where they grew, and several of our fungi I- 
only know from fragments seen of them in that way. id 
“The most delicious of our Fungi for the table is a pis : 
nearly allied to Boletus, but the pores instead of being placed - 
side by side, on the under side of the pileus, run in all direc- - 
tions through the mass, at least through that part of it which - 
is elevated on a stem. The whole plant is white, the lower | 
part farinaceous like a mealy potato; the shape of the upper 
part is irregular, generally angular uneven above. It is com- - 
mon in a particular sort of land, but it is so eagerly sought | 
by the fungivorous animals, that it was with great difficulty — 
I could procure a few specimens. The only thing which - 
generally remains to show where they have dug it up and 
eaten it, is a little of the white powdery part.” opi 
Unfortunately, no specimens of this species arrived ; but 
if a fragment, which I pieked out from some other fungh | 
belong to it, it should seem to be a species of Secotium with 
the spores similar to those of Secotium Gueinzii, Kze. 
30. Cortinarius (Myxacium) erythreus, n. sp., parvus sañ- 
guineus; pileo convexo glabro stipiteque brevi viscoso; l3 
mellis adnexis ventricosis; mycelio flavo.— Drumm. n. 11 
On the ground. = 
Pileus 1-13 inch broad, blood red, clothed with a thie! 
gelatinous coat, smooth, often lobed ; veil consisting of strong 
