40 



FUNGALES. 



[Thallogens- 



ties. 



In the coal mines near Dresden the species are described as giving those 



places the air of an en- 

 chanted castle ; the roof, 

 walls, and pillars, are en- 

 tirely covered with them, 

 their beautiful light almost 

 dazzling the eye. The light 

 is found to increase with 

 the temperature of the 

 mines. Ed. P. J. xiv. 



Several species of genuine 

 Fungi have been observed 

 to be phosphorescent in 

 various parts of the world. 

 Agaricus Gardneri, Berk., 

 which grows on a sort of 

 Palm called Pintada in 

 Brazil is highly luminous. 

 Such also is the case with 

 Agaricus olearius in the 

 South of Europe, as ob- 

 served by Delile. (Arch, 

 de la JBo}. vol. ii. p. 519.) 

 Mr. Drummond has found 

 two or more luminous spe- 

 . _^iM c ' ea a * * ne Swan River, 



;i^---«3iipv (Hook. Lond. Journ. of 



Bot.u. p. 263 ;) and Rum- 

 phius observed the same 

 phenomenon in Amboyna. 

 It is a most remark- 

 able circumstance, and one 

 which deserves particular 

 inquiry, that the growth 

 of the minute Fungi, which 

 constitute what is called 

 mouldiness, is effectually 

 prevented by any kind of 

 perfume. It is known that 

 books will not become 

 mouldy in the neighbour- 

 hood of Russia leather, 

 nor any substance, if placed 

 within the influence of some 

 •^■*5ft essent ial °^" Polyporus 



/. # ^ s8P fomentarius, or an allied 



'■// Tv4, k^-^^JKm species, is used in India as 



a styptic, as well as for 

 Amadou. It is also em- 

 ployed by the Laplanders 

 and others as Moxa. 

 (Abislie, i. 5.) The Boleti, 

 when wounded, heal much 

 Fig. xxv. in the same manner as the 



flesh of animals. (Edin. 

 PhUo8oph.Jov/rn.xxv. 3G9.) 



A \<tv cnriouB phenomenon takes place in several species of the genus Boletus, and 

 analogous appearances present themselves in other genera. The flesh, when broken, 

 changes very rapidly from yellow or white to deep blue, and if the juice be squeezed 

 out, though at first colourless, it quickly becomes blue. Professor Robinson of Armagh 

 has ascertained that this is not a chemical action, but believes it to arise from some 

 change in the molecular arrangement. Tannin, though prejudicial to most vegetables, 

 is not so always to Fungi. A species of Rhizomorpha is often developed in tan-pits. 

 The greatest proper heat met with by Dutrochet in the Vegetable Kingdom, with the 



K KV.— Bphsrla Robertsii, growing from the caterpillar of a New Zealand moth called Hepialuu 

 Mi' cms. 



I QP 



V . 



