224 Fungi. 



sound judgment who attribute many dire diseases of the 

 human race to fungoid agencies. 



But leaving these matters which are yet to be more fully 

 investigated let us glance at some of the benefits derivable 

 from Fungi. They afford food, that most direct of all 

 benefits, to multitudes of Coleopterous and Dipterous insects. 

 Indeed so eagerly is that food sought by them and in such 

 numbers, that it is sometimes difficult for the botanist or 

 collector to obtain specimens not infested by them. 



Snails and slugs also feed upon them with great avidity ; 

 and here is apparent one of those beautiful arrangements 

 of Providence so often seen in the works of Nature. The 

 sun 10 warm showers that call into activity these slugs and 

 snails develop also the numerous Agarics on which they 

 love to feed, so that when they most need food they find it 

 just at hand in the greatest abundance. 



But some may say : " It matters little what good insects 

 and snails may derive from Fungi ; are they of any use to 

 men ? " 



We answer they have been, and still are of no incon- 

 siderable importance to the human race. I need but refer 

 to the extensive employment of them in some foreign 

 countries as an article of food. In this respect some of the 

 European nations are considerably in advance of the people 

 of this country. They are eaten in considerable quantities 

 in Austria, France, Italy and Spain. In the city of Rome 

 alone, according to Dr. Badham, the annual consumption 

 as shown by statistics is from G0,000 to 80,000 lbs. In 

 France the Champignon is not only cultivated and eaten ex- 

 tensively but is also made an article of commerce. 



The Japanese are said to employ many varieties of 

 Fungi for food : and in Australia, the MyUtta Australia, a 

 kind of truffle, is eaten under the name of Australian 

 bread. It is stated on the authority of Dr. Hooker that 

 the inhabitants of Hermit island derive a large part of their 



