THE TERFAS OF AFRICA AND THE ORIENT 



and other plants of somewhat similar hab- 

 its. 



Collecting terfas. In hunting for terfas 

 neither dogs nor pigs are used. A native 

 Arab is required to point out the favorable 

 regions, and then careful observation is all 

 that is needed. When the terfas are nearly- 

 mature they doubtless absorb w^ater more 

 abundantly through the mycelium, thus in- 

 creasing rapidly in size, and this expansion 

 causes a slight bulging and breaking of the 

 soil around the roots of the plants under 

 which they grow. By this means they are 

 easily located, yet there are many false 

 alarms, caused generally by little ant hills. 

 With a sharp stick, alpine stock, or trowel, 

 the fungus is readily removed, for it is sel- 

 dom more than one or two inches beneath 

 the surface. In Algeria the terfas vary in 

 size usually from one to three inches or 

 more in diameter. They may be obtained 

 in surprising quantity during a good season. 

 The fungus is evidently in part parasitic, for 

 not only does it commonly occur in connec- 



215 



