scarcely be confoimded -n-itli a number of stout substantial congeners, occurring at the same season and in 

 similar sites; some clothed entirely in brown without any tinge of purple; others with gills, and even flesh, 

 partaking strongly of that hue; but none that we have discovered, with the pecuHar zone which dis- 

 tinguishes A. glmicopiis, produced by the virgate fibrillose streaks which mark the pileus not being 



continued to the margin. 



We have given no further synonyms than that of Fries ; they are all doubtful, and will remain so 

 till some Mycological CEdipus shall arise to solve enigmas constantly perplexing the student, who is 

 perpetually checked in his "Eureka" by some troublesome httle want of coincidence. The calling this 

 Agaric by a name, one meaning of which is blue or azure, is, as far as our specimens are concerned, 

 a decided case of luais a non liicendo, for blue is not exliibited on any portion of the fungus. It would be 

 better, as far as we are concerned, to adopt a secondary meaning, " bright and shifting like an owl's eye," 

 for that does in some degree apply to the shinmg pileus of variable tints. 



We have found A. glaiicopus for several seasons in the same spot, a sandy dell, beneath ancient 

 birches, innocent of any cultivating invasion since man was ordained to till the earth ; and likely to remain 

 so, to the dehght and solace of many a rabbit delving long galleries in the yielding soil, where the roots of 

 the noble di-ooping old birch-trees serve as roof-timbers to the ancient halls and modern additions of the 

 timid brown arcliitects. Perhaps the soil being often loosened by repeated burrowings assists the broad 

 pileus of A. glaucopus to display itself in more regular proportions than many other Agarics ; but showy, 

 specious, and worthless, it is certainly not humanly esculent, nor do snails and their kind eat their way 

 into its substance. It appears late in the season, when the birch-leaves are turned to pale gold or scattered 

 over the dewy gi-ass, thickly spread with beaded spider-webs, and then the pileus is decidedly viscid, very 

 shining and brilliant, but becomes dull as it dries after being in the house. The yoang specimens are 

 lovely in their delicate veils, excellent examples of the arachnoid type. 



