BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



I.— FUNGUS EATING. 



FUNGUS eating is not a modern idiosyncrasy con- 

 fined to a few enthusiasts, or limited to a few 

 Western States of Europe. It is ancient in its 

 origin, and of wide geographical distribution. If we 

 seek for traces of the practice amongst ancient nations 

 we shall be convinced of its antiquity. In some of 

 the Talmudical treatises mention is made of fungi 

 which were allowed as food. In one treatise it is 

 asked, "With what blessing are fungi to be con- 

 secrated before being eaten?" and, again, we are 

 informed that if a person was under- a vow not to eat 

 of the fruits of the earth, this did not prevent him 

 from eating fungi, as such things did not derive 

 nourishment from the soil but from the viscid matter 

 of trees. In another of the treatises it is said that 

 " The people went out into the fields, and gathered for 

 themselves fungi and boleti." And there are also 

 Chaldee words which are equivalent to fungi and 

 boleti. This carries the eating of fungi backwards 



