446 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



Mexico to the action of some insect which frequents the flower ; and 

 hence accounts for the non-production of fruit in those plants which 

 have been removed to other countries, There can be no doubt that 

 this plant is as perfectly indigenous to Brazil as it is to Mexico : but it 

 is no less certain that its fruit is there seldom matured. Is this also to 

 be attributed to the absence of the means by which nature is supposed 

 to effect fecundation in Mexico ? This is a subject which, as Professor 

 Morren justly observes, well deserves attention in a commercial point 

 of view, since his experiments go to prove that in all intertropical 

 countries vanilla might be cultivated, and a great abundance of fruit 

 obtained. 



15. Phosphorescent Fungus, (Gardner's Travels in the interior of 

 Brazil, p. 346 ; Jameson's Jour., xlii, p. 382.)— One dark night, about the 

 beginning of December, while passing along the streets of the Villa de 

 Natividade, I observed some boys amusing themselves with some lu- 

 minous object, which I at first supposed to be a kind of large fire-fly; 

 but on making enquiry, I found it to be a beautiful phosphorescent 

 fungus, belonging to the genus Agaricus, and was told that it grew 

 abundantly in the neighborhood, on the decayed leaves of a dwarf 

 palm. Next day I obtained a great many specimens, and found them 

 to vary from 1 to 2£ inches across. The whole plant gives out at 

 night a bright phosphorescent light, of a pale greenish hue, similar to 

 that emitted by the larger fire-flies, or by those curious soft-bodied ma- 

 rine animals, the Pyrosoma. From this circumstance, and from grow- 

 ing on a palm, it is called by the inhabitants " Flor de Coco." The 

 light given out by a few of these fungi, in a dark room, was sufficient 

 to read by. It proved to be quite a new species ; and since my re- 

 turn from Brazil, has been described by the Rev. Mr. Berkeley, under 

 the name of Agaricus Gardneri, from preserved specimens which 1 

 have brought home. I had already named it A. phosphor escens, not 

 being aware at the time I discovered it that any other species of the 

 same genus exhibited a similar phenomenon : such, however, is the 

 case in the Agaricus olearius of DeCandolIe; and Mr. Drummond, 

 of the Swan River Colony, in Australia, has given an account of a 

 very large phosphorescent species, occasionally found there. 



16. Effects of Datura sanguinea, R. Pav, (Travels in Peru, hjvt. 

 J. J. Von Tschudi, p. 269; Jameson's Jour., xlii, 384.)— To this plant 

 the natives give the names Huacacachu, Yerba de Huaca, or Bobachevo; 

 and they prepare from its fruit a very powerful narcotic drink, ca!le 

 tonga. The Indians believe that by drinking the tonga they are brought 

 into communication with the spirits of their forefathers. I once had an 

 opportunity of observing an Indian under the influence of this drin . 

 Shortly after having swallowed the beverage he fell into a heavy stupor ; 

 he sat with his eyes vacantly fixed on the ground, his mouth conv 

 sively closed, and his nostrils dilated. In the course of about a quar e^ 

 of an hour his eyes began to roll, foam issued from his half-opened p i 

 and his whole body was agitated by frightful convulsions. These vio- 

 lent symptoms having subsided, a profound sleep of several hours s ^ 

 ceeded. In the evening I again saw this Indian. He was re ! aling hi ° ch 

 circle of attentive listeners the particulars of his vision, ,^" rin ^ * h Lg 

 he alleged he had held communication with the spirits of his foreiatn 

 He appeared very weak and exhausted. 



