114 FUNGI. 



again, the specimens were placed in the pocket, the pocket when 

 opened was a mass of light. The luminosity had now been 

 going on for three days. Unfortunately we did not see it our- 

 selves till the third day, when it had, possibly from a change in 

 the state of electricity, been somewhat impaired ; but it was 

 still most interesting, and we have merely recorded what we 

 observed ourselves. It was almost possible to read the time on 

 the face of a watch even in its less luminous condition. We do 

 not for a moment suppose that the mycelium is essentially 

 luminous, but are rather inclined to believe that a peculiar con- 

 currence of climatic conditions is necessary for the production 

 of the phenomenon, which is certainly one of great rarity. 

 Observers as we have been of fungi in their native haunts for 

 fifty years, it has never fallen to our lot to witness a similar case 

 before, though Prof. Churchill Babington once sent us specimens 

 of luminous wood, which had, however, lost their luminosity 

 before they arrived. It should be observed that the parts of the 

 wood which were most luminous were not only deeply penetrated 

 by the more delicate parts of the mycelium, but were those 

 which were most decomposed. It is probable, therefore, that 

 this fact is an element in the case as well as the presence of 

 fungoid matter." 



In all cases of phosphorescence recorded, the light emitted 

 is described as of the same character, varying only in intensity. 

 It answers well to the name applied to it, as it seems remarkably 

 similar to the light emitted by some living insects and other 

 animal organisms, as well as to that evolved, under favourable 

 conditions, by dead animal matter a pale bluish light, resem- 

 bling that emitted by phosphorus as seen in a dark room. 



Another phenomenon worthy of note is the change of colour 

 which the bruised or cut surface of some fungi undergo. Most 

 prominent amongst these are certain poisonous species of 

 Boletus, such, for instance, as Boletus luridus, and some 

 others, which, on being bruised, cut, or divided, exhibit an 

 intense, and in some cases vivid, blue. At times this change 

 is so instantaneous that before the two freshly-cut portions 

 of a Boletus can be separated, it has already commenced, and 



