92 PHOSPHORESCENCE IN 
Mr. Gardner found these phosphorescent fungi in 
Brazil, but it appears that a very large species 
which possesses similar ight-emitting properties, 
is found in the Swan River colony. 
A red mushroom, Agaricus olearius (fig. 11), 
“Wt =e 
WWE 
2 = == 
Mii 
WEE 
which grows at the foot of the olive-tree, in Italy, 
throws out during the night a blue light, which it 
spreads silently around. ‘This remarkable fungus 
has been studied by M. Delile and M. Fabre. 
According to the first-named naturalist, when 
this agaric is still young, it is phosphorescent for 
many successive nights, even when it is detached 
from the tree, at the foot of which it is generally 
to be found. It begins to shine a hittle before 
nightfall, continues luminous during the night, 
