If you are interested in the folklore of fungi and links with witches and
spirits, then Toads and Toadstools by Adrian Morgan (Celestial Arts,
$24.95, ISBN 0 89087 777 7) is the obvious choice. The chapter headings
give the feel of the book: Toad Venom, Fairies, Witch Trials, Shamanism and
Magic, Divine Frenzy, Toad Princess, Magic Ointments, Spirits of the Dead and
Beyond Mexico. Bravely, the author has imbibed concoctions that most people
would pay to avoid.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
The world's fastest spider tops 3.5 metres per second
2
Babies are born with the neural foundations for maths
3
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
4
I’m the first person whose life was saved by CRISPR base editing
5
Humans sleep the least of all apes – is it the secret to our success?
6
We’ve uncovered a master gene that switches on human development
7
This physicist is hunting for the biggest black hole in the universe
8
Our verdict on The Selfish Gene: An unpopular piece of popular science
9
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028
10
The best sci-fi novel in 2026 so far – plus 6 other great reads



