120 



Dr. Talenti-Serini, after stating tliat Funguses are much used in the nortli 

 and in Italy as an article of food during Lent, and that by careful cooking many 

 suspicious ones are constantly eaten, adds that in spite of the Ammonita and 

 other dangerous species being most abundant, cases of poisoning rarely occur. 



"Ad onta che qui vi siano abbondantissime le ammonite ed iltre specie periculose, 

 gla awelenamenti sono rari" (p. 25). 



Cases of poisoning "rare"! even with this extended use ! Pray, what other article 

 of food is there from which accidents do not occasionally happen ? 



The plain and simple question to be answered after all is this : Are there 

 ANY Funguses, good and wholesome, which have such distinctive charac- 

 ters OF THEIR OWN AS TO ADMIT OF BEING READILY DISTINGUISHED FROM ALL 



OTHERS BY ORDINARY PEOPLE ? The Woolhope Olub, and all those who know 

 them, who eat, and enjoy them, say plainly and fearlessly, "Yes, THERE are." 

 The ordinary mushroom is readily enough known by everybody, and certainly 

 there are other Funguses good and wholesome that may he distinguished with 

 still greater ease and certainty. 



The preceding volumes of our "Transactions" contain drawings and descrip- 

 tions of six of them. In this one, the following are given, viz. : Hydnum repan- 

 dum : the Hedgehog, or Spine-bearing Mushroom ; Fistidina hepatica : the 

 Liver Fungus, or A^egetable beef-steak; Aijaricus orceUa: "OrgeUe, or Vegetable 

 Sweetbread ; and Agaricus prnn ulus : the Plum Mushroom, 



