The selection of food by insects and animals is in some cases remarkable. Snails cliose to eat P. quer- 

 cimis, bitter and hard as it was, wliile soft-fleshed Agarics were at hand ; tliis was owing to no want of the 

 powers of discrimination, for the long heavy slugs would crawl up a brick waU to feast on the most 

 offensive and disagreeable of Agarics, — MeUeus, (honey coloured, not honey flavoured good reader,) and if 

 they could detect the strong foxy scent, they must also have appreciated the flavour, for a banquet on this, 

 the " Tetes de Meduse, " was certainly ambrosial in slug estimation, and great was the labour and exertion they 

 employed to get at it, although food, we should have selected if catering for them, might have been had 

 without any pains. Whatever qualities our present subject may possess, is, perhaps, of little importance 

 since it is so very rare, that to recommend it would be to tantalize. In its white and most luxuriant form 

 it has some resemblance to P. dettdinus, but that is not bitter and does not turn so yellow in age. 

 P. quercinus is never zoned ; the growth being more vigorous at some periods than at others, causes it to 

 swell and contract in outline as the plate shews. Little nodular pieces of various Polyporuses may resemble 

 it in a youtliful state ; but one test seems as if it might be depended upon — taste. Is it bitter ? — as gall. 

 Then it is, if other particulars do not forbid, P. quercinus, we know of no other of the family having this 

 quality : P. Bryadens, growing at the foot of oaks, certainly has not, being only sub-acid. 



