]12 



HAllDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[May 1, 1367. 



MAY MUSHROOMS (Agaricus prunulus). 



T?EW who walk abroad in the fields in May, but 

 •*- must have noticed some rings of grass much 

 taller and of a darker colour than that of the rest of 

 the field: these are generally known as "Fairy 

 Rings," and legendary lore tells us that they are 

 formed by the circular dances of which the "good 

 folk " were supposed to be so fond. 



These rings, however caused, are known to the 

 Botanist as the locale for the Agaricus prunulus, a 

 most delicious mushroom, probably the identical 

 species from which the French term mousseron, and 

 hence our mushroom, has been derived. 



As this species is abundant in the district around 

 Cirencester, I introduced it to the notice of my 

 numerous pupils as well as that of my brother Pro- 

 fessor at the College, and I have known seventy 

 persons to make a hearty supper of them at one 

 meal, without a single case of inconvenience, and, 

 in fact, we always looked forward to the month of 

 May for gathering our usual treat. 



Some years since I took a small basket of them to 

 a May meet of the Cotteswold Club, which was 

 appointed at Swindon Station ; these were sent to 

 the kitchen to be cooked for our breakfast, and 

 when placed on the table, the perfume the dish ex- 

 haled, like that of Lamb's burnt pig, caused each 

 member to forget his scruples, and, for the first time, 

 to taste " toadstools." After breakfast the landlord 

 made his appearance and asked for some informa- 

 tion about the mushroom, as an Italian cook, im- 

 mediately upon seeing it, struck an attitude, and com- 

 menced heroics on " Verdant Italy." The truth is, 

 this is a favourite species in Italy, where it fetches 

 a good price, and where, as stated by Dr. Badham, 

 early examples are sent as " bribes to lawyers, and 

 fees to medical men." The dried fungus is sold in 

 England at the Italian warehouses under the name 

 of " funghi." I never had them cooked so well as 

 at Swindon, though I have always found them good 

 fried with a little bacon, having been previously 

 sprinkled with pepper and salt. A lady friend of 

 ours once stewed them, but the result was a most 

 unsavoury fluid, in which was roused something like 

 bits of soaked buckskin. 



Still, cooked well this is an agreeable, wholesome, 

 nutritious plant, and is so abundant in some of the 

 pastures in the first two or three weeks of May, 

 that even tons of a good kind of food may be ob- 

 tained from them ; and here there can be no mistake, 

 for in as far as I know, no other fungus grows in 

 " Fairy Rings " in May, though I have seen the same 

 rings occupied by the A. orendes, also a good species, 

 and the A. personatus— the " blewit "—later in the 

 season* J. Buckman. 



* For information on this useful tribe of plants, see " British 

 Fungi," by M. C. Cooke, a book which no one living in the 

 country should be without. It is published by R. Hardwicke. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Gracula beligiosa. — Thinking that the orni- 

 thological readers of Science Gossip would be 

 interested by a short description of two rather rare 

 birds, located at the present time in our town, I 

 will give the result of my interview with the 

 "Talking Minos" (Gracula religiosa). They are 

 in size between a blackbird and jackdaw; about 

 12 inches from beak to tip of tail ; of a beautiful 

 black colour, with yellow ears and eyelids, which, 

 coupled with the peculiar heavy hops and jumps, 

 gives them a very knowing and intelligent appear- 

 ance. Both birds are very loquacious, and readily 

 learn anything in the way of short sentences. The 

 tone of voice is very deep, but clear and distinct, 

 both birds keeping up a continual chatter, using 

 such expressions as the following : " Half-past six 

 —time to go to tea ! " " Call the watch ! " " Pretty 

 boy ! oh, you are a pretty boy ! " " Call the dog — 

 Toby ! Toby ! Toby!" (following which comes a long 

 whistle) ; cough three or four times ; and other 

 things too numerous to mention. They appear in 

 perfect health, very docile, not objecting to be 

 handled, and have been some time in England. — 

 /. /. Owles. 



Cuckoo. — The cuckoo has appeared unusually 

 early this year. I saw the bird on the 27th of 

 March, and one of my family distinctly heard its 

 note some hours previous to my seeing it. The 

 cuckoo here almost invariably lays its egg in the 

 nest of the wagtail ; but about three years since, I 

 noticed a young cuckoo being fed and cared for by 

 the redstart.— 67. 



Slowworm Climbing. — Is the slowworm known 

 to have any climbing propensities ? I have in my 

 possession a smallish specimen, being rather under 

 twelve inches in length, and in the case which he 

 inhabits is a diminutive dead tree, that grows nearly 

 upright for about six inches, and then slants for 

 eight inches more at an angle of 45° or less with the 

 ground. Up this he frequently climbs as far as the 

 branch extends, when he stretches about in various 

 directions, showing great muscular power, until he 

 usually overbalances, and descends quicker than he 

 went up. Though I have had this reptile two or 

 three months I have not seen him take food ; he 

 goes up to either worm or slug, as if to take it, but 

 after examination turns away with an air of indiffe- 

 rence. — George Guyon. 



The Nightingale.— On the 12th of this mouth 

 (March), I distinctly heard the notes of a nightin- 

 gale in some woods between Claygate and Leather- 

 head. Two were heard near Monmouth on the 7th 

 (vide the Field, March 13th). These dates are, I 

 believe, very early, but one could scarcely mistake 

 the beautiful notes of the nightingale. There are a 

 great many about here. — L. S., Surhilon, Surrey. 



