CHAPTER X. 



A Catalogue of British Poisonous Fungi. 



^*;(. In this list are described all of onr larger Fungi which have 

 been demonstrated to contain some essential principle which in- 

 duces morbid effects if taken into the body. Subjoined are notes 

 stating what is known of each species in pai'ticular, without re- 

 capitulating what has already been said in the preceding chapter, 

 to which the reader is referred. Mention is also made of some 

 species which there is reason to suspect of being poisonous, but 

 whose qualities have not been ascertained as yet, and which can- 

 not therefore be certainly stated to contain noxious essences until 

 further light shall have been thrown upon them. For sundi'y 

 " suspects " have turned cut, upon careful examination, to be really 

 quite harmless. This catalogue is imperfect, and affords very 

 limited information. Still, in conjunction with the last chapter, 

 the author believes he has collected all precise details on the 

 subject yet known to the world. The paucity of this knowledge 

 of fungus toxicology should evidence how desirable it is that 

 further investigation should be undertaken by the scientific world, 

 especially here, where the subject has hitherto been almost wholly 

 overlooked in the right quarters. 



OBDEB AG ABIC INI. 



Genus AGARICUS. Sub-genus AMANITA. 



(I.) AGARICUS EXCELSUS; Amanita excelsa ; Tlie Tall 

 Amanite. 



Habitat. On the ground in hilly woods. Solitary. 



Season. July to October. Not common. 



Pileus. Three to six inches across, grey, grey-buff, moist, 

 verrucose ; spherical, then convex, plane. Warts large, conical, 

 scattered, irregular, fugacious. Cuticle tough, separable. Margin 

 imooth, even, or striate in age. 



161 M 



