ESCULENT FUNGI. 337 



manner, by using the refuse of the olive-oil presses. 

 In the Landes of the south of France, the earth 

 under oak-trees is sometimes kept continually moist 

 by water in which the Boletus edulis has been 

 boiled, whence, it is said, arises an abundant crop of 

 that species, which we are told resembles the cocoa- 

 nut in taste.* 



The Jigaricus muscarius is used by the inhabit- 

 ants of the north-eastern part of Asia, in the same 

 manner as ardent spirits or wine, to promote in- 

 toxication. This species, which is a native of Britain, 

 abounding in the woods of the Highlands of Scotland, 

 is one of the largest and most beautiful of the agaric 

 tribe. It has a large cap, nearly flat, of a brilliant 

 pink or a crimson colour, sometimes beset with an- 

 gular warts, and ' is extremely conspicuous, even at 

 a distance, in the shaded recesses of its native woods.' 

 It is the favourite drug, moucho-more, of the Rus- 

 sians, Kamchadales, and Korians, who use it to 

 promote intoxication. ' These fungi are collected 

 in the hottest month, and hung up by a string in the 

 air to dry; some dry of themselves on the ground, 

 and are said to be far more narcotic than those arti- 

 ficially preserved. Small deep-coloured specimens, 

 thickly covered with warts, are also said to be more 

 powerful than those which attain to a larger size, 

 and are of a paler colour. 



1 The usual mode of taking this fungus is to roll 

 it up like a bolus, and swallow it without chewing, 

 which the Kamchadales say would disorder the 

 stomach. It is sometimes eaten fresh in soups and 

 sauces, and then loses much of its intoxicating pro- 

 perty. When steeped in the juice of the berries of 

 Vaccinium uliginosum, its effects are the same as 

 those of strong wine. One large, or two small fungi, 

 is a common dose, to produce a pleasant intoxication 



* Bull Univ., October, 1827. 

 VOL. xv. 29 



