90 A PLAIN AND EAST ACCOUNT 



is found commonly and much esteemed in Germany, 

 Italy, Switzerland, &c. In these countries they are 

 preserved for winter use by being plunged in boiling 

 water, dried, and macerated in vinegar. 



Probably others of our indigenous kinds are edible, 

 especially one resembling G. fastigiata, which is found 

 on lawns, and is of a tint of palish umber, not at all 

 inclining to yellow ; and C. cristata, which, as well as 

 C. rugosa, is found in woods. Should either of these 

 be found in sufficient quantity they certainly merit the 

 trouble of an experiment. 



The three remaining genera of this order contain no 

 species calling for notice. 



GELATINOUS FUNGI. 



THE last order of the first family of Fungi is Tre- 

 mellini, in which the whole plant is gelatinous, and 

 more or less folded. The fructifying surface is always 

 uppermost, spread over, and following all its foldings 

 and inequalities. With but one exception, this order 

 is unhonoured in history or romance, and unknown as 

 food or physic. The exception is in favour of the 

 Jew's ear (Hirneola auricula- Judw), which had at 

 one time a reputation for the cure of sore throats, and 

 also as a topical astringent, and even now it has some 

 repute abroad, or it would not appear amongst the 

 medicinal substances sent to the International Exhi- 

 bition from one of the French colonies. Its faculty of 

 absorbing and holding water like a sponge has resulted 



