THE PAGE OF NATURE. 261 



small pyramidal or polyhedrons warts. The internal 

 substance is solid, of a dirty white or pale brown colour, 

 grained like a nutmeg, with darker serpentine lines. 

 The white portions are considered by botanists to be 

 homologous to the mycelium or spawn of other fungi, as 

 their structure is decidedly filamentous; while the veins 

 are the reproductive parts, containing in their cellular 

 tissue minute oval capsules, with two globular, yellowish, 

 warted seeds in their interior. This curious structure, 

 having all the parts of nutrition and reproduction en- 

 closed internally, instead of externally as in other fungi, 

 reminds one of the flower of the fig, which, it is well 

 known, is fixed upon the inside of the receptacle that 

 constitutes the fruit. The truffles of Great Britain sel- 

 dom exceed three or four ounces in weight ; but in Italy 

 and Germany they have occasionally been found weighing 

 eight and even fourteen pounds. They are received at 

 our tables either fresh, and roasted like potatoes, or 

 dried and sliced into ragouts. They are esteemed for 

 their delicious taste, and are much sought for as a luxury, 

 being hunted by dogs trained for the purpose. Pigs are 

 very fond of them, and advantage is taken of their in- 

 stinctive knowledge of the spots where they are found, 

 and their natural propensity to dig them up, to gather a 

 more plentiful supply than could be obtained by a chance 

 search. Nees von Essenbeck relates an instance of a 

 poor crippled boy who could detect the hiding-places of 

 truffles with more certainty even than the best dogs, and 

 thus earned a comfortable livelihood. They have been 

 successfully cultivated by Bornholz. They are found in 

 dry and light calcareous soil in woods throughout the 



