5? QBSERVATIONS on 



in Its nature, and very ftimulating if applied 

 to the tongue. 



It is very common in woods, particularly 

 near the roots of trees. Lightfpot obfervecj 

 it at Blair in Athol, and many other places 

 in Scotland *. 



This fungus, when freely taken, has 

 been attended v/ith fatal confequences -^f. 

 John Bauhine informs us, that after having 

 handled it, he rubbed his eyes by accident, 

 and brought on a violent irritation upon the 

 eye-lids : and it is remarkable, that when 

 this vegetable has loft its acrid juice by ex- 

 ficcation, its cauftic quality remains. 



The deleterious efFefts of fome of th^ 

 fungi were known to the ancients, particu- 

 larly the boletus, mentioned by Juvenal, ort 

 account of the death of the emperor Claudius %. 

 This cifcumftance is alfo defcribed by Pliny. 



SpMP 



* Flor. Scot. vol. ii. p. 1014. 

 f Vide J. and C. Bauhine, Ray, Morifon, Tojuirne- 

 fort, Vaillant, Dillenius, and Micheli, who have given 

 jnftances oi tht pernicrous effe6ls of fungi. 

 :|: « Vilibua ancipites fungi ponentur amicis 

 «' Boletus domino, fed qualem Claudius edit. 

 *^ Ante ilium uxoris, poft quern nil amplius edit." 



Sat. v. 

 <« — Minus 



