Order Hymenomycetes. Tribe Pileati. 



Plate XXXIII. 



AGARICUS DRYINUS, Pmoo« 



Oak Agaric. 



Series Leucosporus. Subgenus Pleuropus. 



Spec. Cliar. Agaeicus dryinus. Veil universal, fugacious. Pileus horizontal, oblique, excentric, compact, bard, 

 about thi'ce inclies broad, nearly smooth, whitish, the surface broken into brown adpressed scales ; the margin in- 

 volute, with fragments of the broad woven veil adhering to it ; flesh continued into the stem, white. Gills white, 

 not very broad, decurrent, forked, crisp. Spores white. Stem tirm, almost woody, tomentose at the base ; the 

 whole plant, and the stem in particular, turns yellow when bruised, and in drj-ing. Taste and smell agreeable ; 

 doubtless esculent. 



AcABicns di-yinus, Persoon, Fries, Berkeley. 

 Coquille du Chene, Puulet. 



Hub. Rare. On an oak at Hayes. 



It is seldom that we have been tempted to give two different representations of the same fungus, but 

 in this case a complete portrait appeai-ed of sufficient importance to warrant so doing ; since, although 

 " oreilles," and " cuillers," and " coquilles," and " conques" of various kinds have been held in vulgar 

 estimation, it is not easy to make out whether different species or the same were disguised (for pointed out 

 they are not) under these designations. Agaricus ostreatus we know to have been eaten from the earhest 

 period of which we possess correct data ; it differs from the present subject in having no veil ; the pileus is, 

 therefore, perfectly smooth, resembling in texture A. personatus, the Blewit, while the distinguishing veil of 

 A. dryinus remains in brown scales upon the surface. 



At first sight the reverse side of tliis species reminds us of A. euosnms (given in the First Series), the 

 anastomosing gills upon the curiously elbowed stem having a good deal of that type ; but A. euosnms smells 

 like tarragon, does not turn yellow, and being destitute of a veil has no scales upon the pileus ; it has also 

 lilac spores, instead of pure white ones. 



"We fear these recapitulations may be tiresome to some readers, but they are needful for others, since a 

 mere reference to our First Series is useless to those who do not possess it. The complaint that any one 

 should commit the mistake of being content with the half of a book applies only to those who adopt the 

 latter hahf. Many of our patrons may have thought the First Series a sufficiency for them, and cared nought 

 for a second ; but how any person beginning with the latter half can refrain from ordering the former, is a 



