162 IN THE ACADIAN LAND. 



and the spores will be fixed where they fall 

 on it. 



The general impression is that toadstools are 

 poisonous when eaten, but the charge is too 

 sweeping. There are about two thousand spe- 

 cies known and described. Out of that number 

 less than fifty are believed to be poisonous, and 

 the others are good food and very largely eaten. 

 In Russia, especially, almost all kinds are freely 

 eaten. In this province there is the " deadly 

 Aminita" To make matters worse, this is closely 

 related by family ties to the edible mushrooms. 

 The resemblance has been the death of many 

 people, who were deceived by appearances, and 

 ate the poisonous fraud. It is of a medium 

 size, with a yellow-russet or pale-yellow cap, 

 and a white stem and gills, and when full grown 

 has a shrivelled veil furled about the .stem. At 

 an earlier growth the veil covers the gills. The 

 distinguishing mark that brands it as dangerous 

 is not always, nor often, in sight. The stem 

 rises out of a little cup with ragged edges: 

 this is the sign ; have no further acquaintance 

 with it, for even the smell of it is sickening to 

 some persons. We have another that must not 

 be eaten. It is known as the Fly-blow agaric, 

 and one may find them in abundance a large 

 stout species, with a reddish or even red and 



