in the course of the ten minutes it was watched, and it continued to trickle from the wound for several 

 days ; this juice was slightly astringent, sub-acid, and crystallized in drying. The odour of the Poli/jmriis 

 is not very powerful when moist, but most disagreeable wliile undergoing the process of desiccation. 

 During this same process a remarkable fact was observed : the Folyporus had been placed for safety in a 

 cupboard, generally the receptacle, amongst other out-of-door matters, of the cat's dinner; and in the 

 evening, the children lodged a complaint that a plate of most disagreeable fish, so far advanced in decom- 

 position as to afford a briOiant hght, had been left for poor pussy, who of course spm-ned it with infinite 

 disgust. This matter of fish met with instant denial; what then was the offensive substance? The 

 specimen of P. sulphureus, as brilliantly phosphorescent, and quite as malodorous, as ever was decaying 

 mackerel. This phosphorescence of Funguses is not new ; Dr. Badliam mentions it, and Paidet states it of 

 the subject under consideration; but although he may, as well as ourselves, have seen P. mlpJmreus giving 

 out a shining light, he is wrong in identifying it with PHny's Fungus which did the same tiling. The 

 statement of the Latin author is that on the top of Glandiferous trees (not necessarily oaks) there grew a 

 white, odoriferous Fungus, which, shining by night, pointed out where to gather it in the dark. This is 

 probably the white Agaric of commerce used in medicine, liiglily resinous and powerful in its qualities, 

 which grows on larches only, and with wliich P. sulphureus must not be confounded — but it is not likely 

 it should be in England, as it is not found here. " Galliarum giandiferse' maxime arbores agaricum ferunt. 

 Est autem fungus candidus, odoratus, antidotis efficax, in sunmiis arboribus nascens, nocte relucens. 

 Signum hoc ejus, quo in tenebris decerpitur." Nat. Hist. Lib. xvi. 13. 



This beautiful Polyporus recurs upon the same site in several successive seasons, but in scantier mass 

 and diminished vigour each year, tUl at last it appears to have absorbed from that particular tree all the 

 nourislmient available for its support. It was first described by Eay, and is undoubtedly, although he is in 

 errour as to that being Pliny's Fungus, the Agaric Styptique of Paulet, who compares the flavour to diluted 

 spirits of vitriol. He says also that the smell, as well as the brilliant yellow colour, are carried off by 

 spu'its of wine. It is strongly purgative, according to the same experimenting authority. The growth is 

 extremely rapid, which fact was observed by Sowerby, who says that after heavy smnmer rains, "it forms an 

 imbricated mass, in a few days, of three or more feet in circumference ;" he also mentions the walnut and 

 willow as its habitats, and tliinks that the ramose states are owing to its growing iu deep shade ; but with 

 respect to this it may be remarked that parts of the imbricated masses are inclined, if very vigorous and 

 their horizontal development is checked, to assume a branched form ; over luxuriance is in that case the 

 probable cause of this character being prevalent, as it is the reproductive portion, the pored hymenium, which 

 asserts itself wherever there is no room for the expansion of a head, pileus and all. On a horizontal surface 

 it is evident the branched would be the natural growth ; several Agarics, lateral stemmed when protruding 

 from the side of a stump, are found with central stems if produced on its fiat top. A. ostreatus and 

 .4. «%)^jc?<* are examples of tliis. Notliing can be more beautiful than this Aurora-tinted Fungus; the 

 most duU must be struck with it, the most prejudiced admire it. On the question of utility, wliich is sure 

 to be asked — that it is not fit for table use we need scarcely state, but it need not therefore be condemned, 

 being probably not more poisonous than medicinal things in general. Whether in that light it be worth 

 attention, we leave to wiser heads. 



' Praecipue larices, oculato teste Nic. Chorier. lib. I. hist. Delphin. p. 58. Sunt enim ea regioue plurimee. 

 Harchdn, in Plin. xvi. 13. 



