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28 
and in its action produces symptoms similar to those occasioned by 
poisoning with phosphorus. Phialline is a very powerful agent, even 
in exceedingly minute proportions, in causing the dissolution of the 
red corpuscles of the blood; this is followed by the liberation of 
certain ferments which induce complex coagulation of the blood, 
and consequently serious cerebral disturbance follows. From ascer- 
tained cases observed in Russia and other European countries, it is 
shown that a very large percentage of the deaths due to fungus 
poisoning are caused by eating Amanita phalloides, Fr. The follow- 
ing species or forms also contain the same poisonous substance :— 
Amanita virescens, Flor. Dan.; Amanita viridis, Pers.; Amanita 
citrina, Schaeff.; Amanita virosa, Fr ; Amanita mappa, Fr.; Amanita 
recutita, Fr.; and Amanita porphyria, Fr. 
It is scarcely necessary to intimate, in face of the above statement, 
that in future one of the duties of every Mycological Society should 
be to impart to the general public a correct knowledge of the 
characteristics of the above named fungi and their deleterious 
properties. 
M. Boudier has described and figured (Bull. Soc. Myc. France 
1897, p. Io, pl. 1-3) several very interesting new French fungi, some 
of which may probably be found in Britain. The following brief 
diagnoses will indicate the leading features of these species :— 
Pleurotus ostreatus, var. nudipes, Boud. Distinguished from 
the typical form by the perfectly glabrous stem. 
FHlygrophorus turundus, var. lepidus, Boud. 
high, pileus Squamulose, 
orange ; gills deeply decur 
Slender, 5-7 cm. 
and with the stem shining golden 
rent, pallid ; spores 9-10 x 5-6u. 
Psathyra typha, var. Iridis, Boud. 
pileus fuscous, umbonate, 
floccose ring. 
Slender, 2-4 cm. high, 
striate, rugulose ; stem paler with a 
Ramaria Rieli, Boud. Robust, 1o- 
rufous, trunk thick, whitish, branches 
divided ; spores pale ochraceous, 
and colour of Clavaria formosa, bu 
stouter, almost undivided branches 
12 cm. high, ochraceo- 
thick, robust, sparingly 
smooth, 16-18 x 5-74; size 
t distinguished by the much 
