CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI. 1035 



Upon the trunks of old trees frequent, at all fea- 

 fons of the year. 



It grows fefllle and horizontal, and confifts of a 

 very hard woody fubftance, in fhape like a 

 horfe's hoof, of various fizes, from a man's fiit 

 to that of his head, or larger. 



The upper fide is fmooth but uneven, difl-inguiflied 

 near the rim by elevated zones or different co- 

 lors, brown, grey, tawny, &c. 



Tlie under fide is plain, either white or yellowifh, 

 and full of very minute pores, which turn 

 brown with age. The feeds are oval. 



The flefh or fubftance within is of a tawny brown 

 color, extremely hard and tough. 



It varies greatly in color, furface, thicknefs, and 

 degree of hardnefs ; whence fome authors have 

 made many fpecies, but Linnaus comprehends 

 them all under one. 



An excellent touchwood is made from this Fun- 

 gus, by firft paring off the upper rind, then 

 boiling the remainder in lye, and afterwards 

 drying and pounding it wirh a hammer ; or 

 elfe only pounding and boiliii^ it up with falt- 

 petre. 



The fiime Fungus beaten out into loft fquare pie- 

 ces is well known to the fur^^^eons by the name 

 of Agaric^ and has been much celebrated for 

 (lopping the bleeding of the arteries in ampu- 

 tations 



