194 FOOTNOTES FROM 



of a pale greenish hue, similar to that emitted by 

 the larger fire -flies, or by those curious soft -bodied, 

 marine animals, the Pyrosomse. From this circumstance, 

 and from growing on a palm, it is called by the inhabi- 

 tants, ' Flor-de-Coco.' The light given out by a few of 

 these fungi in a dark room was sufficient to read by. I 

 was not aware at the time I discovered this fungus, that 

 any other species of the same genus exhibited a similar 

 phenomenon ; such, however, is the case in the Agaricus 

 olearius (mentioned above) of Decandolle ; and Mr. 

 Drummond, of Swan River colony in Australia, has given 

 an account of a very large phosphorescent species occa- 

 sionally found there." This luminous property which so 

 many of the fungi possess, is attributed by some botanists 

 to a slow spontaneous combustion, somewhat similar to 

 what is exhibited by the Dictamus albus, which contin- 

 ually gives off from its surface a volatile oil, and inflames 

 upon the application of a match, so that the bush may 

 thus be enveloped in flames and yet not consumed. Other 

 authorities, however, refer the phenomenon to the libera- 

 titih of phosphorus from some of its combinations in the 

 plant, which seems to be the most plausible explanation. 

 Superstition and ignorance have magnified this simple 

 appearance of nature into a supernatural manifestation ; 

 the ignis fatuus occasionally seen in damp old woods, 

 and regarded by the credulous as a sign of approaching 

 death and an omen of evil, being nothing else than the 

 flickering phosphorescence of fungi in a state of decay. 

 It may be remarked in connexion with this luminous 

 property, that many fungi are capable of generating con- 

 siderable heat. Dutrochet ascertained that the highest 



