SPUNK. 277 
full grown is sometimes so large as to measure eigh- 
teen inches across. This is occasionally eaten, but, in 
many instances, the use of it has been attended with 
injurious consequences. 
298. In Covent Garden market a tall and spongy 
kind of mushroom (dgaricus procerus), with white gills, 
and a large horizontal ring round the stem, is fre- 
quently exposed for sale about the month of Sep- 
tember. 
299. On hedge-banks, in pastures, and in what are 
called fairy-rings, there is a species of mushroom (Aga- 
ricus arcades), with brownish or watery white gills, 
two or four in a set, a pale brown, convex, and irre- 
gular cover, and a whitish stem. These are considered 
by many persons to be the champignons of the French 
cooks. They have a much higher flavour than the 
common mushroom: but from their leathery nature 
are indigestible, except in the form of powder, with 
sauces, or in ketchup, in all of which they are very 
admirable. 
With respect to the plants of the mushroom tribe, it 
ought to be observed that, though several of them are 
edible, many are extremely poisonous. Instances of 
the fatal effects arising from an indiscriminate adoption 
of them are innumerable. Great caution, therefore, is 
requisite that such only shall be used as are ascertained 
to be wholesome, particularly as, in many instances, the 
poisonous species can scarcely be distinguished by the 
eye from such as are innoxious. In cases of injury 
arising from poisonous funguses, the best remedy that 
can be administered is an emetic. 
300. SPUNK, or TOUCHWOOD (Boletus igniarius), 
is a fungus somewhat shaped like a horse's hoof, with pores on 
the under side, and the upper part very hard and smooth, but 
marked with circular bands or ridges of different colours. 
It grows horizontally on the trunks and large branches of 
several kinds of trees 9 when old and decayed. 
