Poisonous Plants of AU Countries. By A. Bernhard Smith. (J.
Wright, Bristol. 2s. 6d. net.)—The further description of the book given on the title-page is : " with the Active, Chemical Principles which they contain, and the Toxic Symptoms produced by each group." The author figures for us the poisonous fungi found in Great Britain. They number twenty-five in all, and it is noticeable that the habitat of almost all is in woods-. The one described as found in " open spaces" only is the Hygrophorus Psittacinus, and this is not sufficiently common to have a popular name. The " Red-Milked Toad-Stool" (Lactarius Pyrogallus) is also found in " meadows " as well as in "groves." "Those whose substance becomes blue soon after being cut are invariably poisonous." Many common plants and flowers 'are poisonous, but not practically dangerous. The iris, for instance, is a vegetable irritant, and the common white jasmine contains aesculin, and so acts on the heart, but no one would think of eating either.
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