The Scottish Naturalist. 91 



Agaricus solstitial is^ Ag. Jiibatiis, &c., grow at about 1000 feet 

 above sea-level. 



In marshy places ^cidium pedicularis is parasitic upon Pediai- 

 laris paliistris, and Fiiccinia calthcB upon Caltha palicstris. Though 

 the Caltha, in its form viinoi', ascends to a high altitude on the 

 mountains, the Puccinia does not, so far as I have seen, ascend 

 with it. 



On the grassy slopes the usual fungi that like the '' open " may 

 be found, such as Hygrophorus pratensis, H. pnniceus, Clavaria 

 fragilis, Agaricus lampropus, Lycoperdon gemmatum, and other 

 species already mentioned ; and no great change in the char- 

 acter of the mycological flora is perceptible till we reach the 

 birch woods. Then these pasture fungi begin to give way to the 

 sylvan kinds, which find their special habitats either below the 

 shelter of the trees or upon the dead or dying wood. On the 

 latter we find the large tough white masses oi Polyp orus hetuliiius, 

 which, when dried, may be cut into razor-strops. The entomolo- 

 gist will find bits of this fungus useful for the same purposes as 

 elder or Jerusalem artichoke pith are often used. Also on the 

 dead birches, but in Glen Tilt much rarer than P. bctulinus, the 

 black hoof-shaped P. ing7-tnus grows, and on the stumps the 

 pretty and variable P. versicolor. 



Near a stump I found a large Agaric, which I thought might 

 be a form of the common Ag. melleus, but which Mr Berkeley was 

 inclined to consider as probably a new species. Consequently I 

 had a search for more specimens a week or two after finding the 

 original ones, but could not discover any more. This fungus, 

 therefore, remains " a thing to be looked for." 



The brilliant orange-coloured Chantarelle {Cantharellus cib- 

 arius) decorates the ground here and there. This fungus, which 

 has an agreeable apricot scent, is not likely to be mistaken for 

 anything but the False Chantarelle {C. aurantiacus), and a very 

 little experience suffices to enable one to distinguish the two. 

 Next to the common mushroom, the Chantarelle is perhaps the 

 fungus that is most eaten in this country. It is said to be 

 improved if soaked in milk for several hours before it is cooked. 



Amongst other fungi in or near the birch woods were the 

 handsome yellow variety of Agaricus vagi?iatus, Ag. purus, Ag. 

 fascicularis, Ag. melleus, Hygrophorus chloropha?ius, H. nitratus, 

 Russula rubra, R. cyanoxa?itha, P. foetens, Lactarius blennius, L. 

 subdulcis, Paxillus ijivolutus, Boletus scaber, &:c. ; and amongst 

 the smaller fungi Lccythea li/ii, L. saliceti, Mclampsora tremidce^ 



