PHOSPHORESCENCE IN 



Mr. Gardner found these phosphorescent fungi in 

 Brazil, but it appears that a very large species 

 which possesses similar light-emitting properties, 

 is found in the Swan River colony. 



A red mushroom, AgaricMs olearius (fig. 11), 



Fig. 11. 



which grows at the foot of the olive-tree, in Italy, 

 throws out during the night a blue light, which it 

 spreads silently around. This remarkable fungus 

 has been studied by M. Delille and M. Fabre. 

 According to the first-named naturalist, when 

 this agaric is still young, it is phosphorescent for 

 many successive nights, even when it is detached 

 from the tree, at the foot of which it is generally 

 to be found. It begins to shine a little before 

 nightfall, continues luminous during the night, 



