Destructive Gulls
The mushroom, it seems, has other enemies than man. A correspondent sends me an interesting account of the general destruction of the fungi in a meadow where there were no stock and indeed no mushroom gatherers. The field was a favourite with gulls and it is thought that they were the sole culprits. I have seen tits feasting greedily off grubs bred in a bracket fungus on a tree, but I should doubt whether the gulls would break up mushrooms for the small insects they may contain. They are inquisitive and almost omnivorous, and have been known to attempt feeding on a golf ball. Mammals will occasionally attack mushrooms, merely for wantonness perhaps, though they will nibble little pieces ; and I have a spaniel pup front which all mushrooms in the garden (which happens to produce a good many) have to be covered up. He devours them with gusto.
* * * *
Previous page
