36 ECONOMIC AND EDIBLE SPECIES 
the best esculent species, and by no means to experiment 
with those which are unknown.” Dr. Plowright concluded 
an article on “ How to Discriminate between Edible and 
Poisonous Fungi” ( Science Gossip , 1896) with the remark: 
“ There is one way, and only one, by which edible fungi can 
be discriminated from poisonous ones with absolute certainty, 
and that is by a knowledge of the individual species.” 
Some of the commonest fungi of our fields and hedgerows 
are violently poisonous— e.g., Amanita phalloides, which is 
popularly known by such significant names as the “ death- 
cup,” and the “ destroying angel.” The poisonous principle 
in this species is called “ phalline,” and is one of the most 
potent of known poisons. Its action is evident even when 
diluted to 1 part in 125,000. 
Sir Jonathan Hutchinson remarks ( Haslemere Museum 
Gazette , 1907): “ It is a question of much interest for the 
farmer, and one which has as yet received little or no 
attention, whether the deaths of sheep, cattle, and horses 
may not sometimes be caused by their having eaten poison¬ 
ous fungi. Sheep do unquestionably sometimes nibble at 
the Russulas and Amanita phalloides, and they also sometimes 
die with all the symptoms of agaric poisoning.” 
