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THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. 
VoL. XIX. OTTAWA, FEBRUARY, 10906. No. 11 
THE FLY AGARIC (AMANITA MUSCARIA) AND HOW 
Bi AGE eis, GATE: 
By NORMAN CRIDDLE, Aweme, Manitoba. 
It is a well «xnown fact that the effects of eating Amanita 
muscarta—commonly called the Fly Agaric—in mistake for com- 
mon mushrooms or other edible fungi, is a very serious one; so 
much so that death usually takes place within a very few days 
afterwards. I have, however, searcbed in vain among my small 
stock of books for any information that relates to this fungus—or 
any other—in connection with its being eaten by cattle. It is 
possible, therefore, that a note on the subject may prove of 
interest. 
The Fly Agaric ( Amanita muscaria,) is found rather plenti- 
fully during July and part of August, growing in wooded country 
where the land is inclined to be sandy, clumps of Ground Cedar 
(Juniperus Sabina, var. procumbens), when growing in such 
localities, being favorite spots. This fungus is a large-sized 
species and should be easily recognized by its color, which, on 
the upper part (the pileus), is of a bright yellow, getting darker 
or more reddish towards the centre. The surface is shiny, with 
numerous scaly warts of a whitish color. The gills and stem are 
pure white. 
This fungus—as well as nearly all the other stalked kinds— 
is much sought after by cattle, which undoubtedly, I think, 
scent it from some distance away, so that in some instances a 
dozen or more may be eaten by a single animal in the course of 
a day, besides numerous other species of a less poisonous nature. 
The effect of eating the Fly Agaric, though sometimes fatal 
