272 fungi: hymenomycetes. 



Agaricus mollis. Polyporus vaporarius. 



variabilis. vulgaris. 



lateritius. Hydnum auriscalpium. 



fascicularis. membranaceum. 



atramentarius. Sistotrema confluens. 



micaceus. Irpex lacteus. 



disseminatus. Thelephora rubiginosa. 



Merulius corium. ■ rugosa. 



lacliryniaus. hirsuta. 



Dsedalea quercina. quercina. 



Polyporus squamosus. incrustans. 



varius. sambuci. 



hispidus. Tremella mesenterica. 



betulinus. albida. 



Polyporus versicolor. sarcoides. 



abietinus. Exidia glandulosa. 



scoticus. 4. Dacrymyces stillatus. 



fomentarius. urticse. 



The j3flu£iI)room (which includes Agaricus campestris and Ag. 

 Georgii) is the only species used in our district, and principally for 

 the making of Catsup. All the other species of the family are 

 looked upon with suspicion ; and the newspapers annvially report 

 cases of poisoning from the eating of one or other of them. There 

 is seldom any truth in these reports*. The ill-favoured and deli- 

 quescent species, as well as the large Polypori and Boleti, are called 

 iSatitlic or |^at<t<ocfej:Stool£i or Cat(r?gtooy, and are believed to be 

 pre-eminently virulent in their qualities, imbibed, no doubt, from the 

 reptiles that lurk about them — 



" The grieslie Todestoole growne there mought I see. 

 And loathed Paddockes lording on the same." 



Spenser had here in view the Polyporus squamosus, which often 

 solicits the attention of the incurious, when it grows large and imbri- 

 cated, tile over tile, from the stumps of ash-trees. The tiles are cut 

 into pieces, and smoothed, when they are used, as strops, to give a 

 sharp edge to the razor. 



4. = P. medulla-panis, Fl. Berw. ii. p. 159. To my specimens the Rev. 

 M. J. Berkeley has appended the following note : — " P. scoticus, Klotzsch : 

 P. subpileatus, Fr. This is probably the true P. medvdla-panis : at least 

 Jacquin's figvu'C agrees exactly." 



* Mr. Adam, of Forfar, has detailed, in an interesting manner, several 

 cases of poisoning from Agaricus muscai'ius, which some may be tempted to 

 eat, from its beauty. Med. and Phys. Journal, xxxii. (1815) p. 369. Of 

 this species Goldsmith has given an amusing account in reference to its in- 

 toxicating effects. Citizen of the World, Letter xxxii. A case of poisoning 

 from Agaricus camjianulatus in Med. and Phys. Joinnal, xxxvi. (1816) 

 p. 451. And Professor Balfour tells us that " Agaricus procerus is eaten 

 abroad ; but I have seen a case of poisomng from it occur in Edinburgh." 

 Manual, p. 553. 



