Order Hymenomycetes. Tribe Pileati. 



Plate XLVI. 



AGARICUS NICTITANS, Buiuard. 



Series Leucosporus. Subgenus Tbicholoma. 



Spec. Char. Agaricus nictitans. Pileus fleshy ; at first convex, then plane, obtuse, smooth, but innately 

 virgate ; slightly viscid. GOls at first rounded, free, at length irregularly emarginate, somewhat waved and 

 notched, yellow, marked with red stains. Spores white. Flesh white. Stem stuffed, dry, elastic, unequal, 

 slightly ventricose, squamulose. Smell sweet ; taste slightly of mushrooms, not bitter. 

 Agakicus nictitans, BulliarJ, Fries. 



Hah. Rare ; in sunny woodlands. Autumnal. 



Agaricus nictitans was found growing ou an open plot of loose peaty soil at Hayes. Dr. Badham had 

 previously discovered it in Suffolk ; and these are, as we believe, the only two occasions on which it has 

 been noticed in England. Fries calls it " rare," speaking Europeanly. It is a very elegant species ; but 

 the discoloration of the delicate yellow gills, which become reddened by bruising, spoils its appearance 

 after having been carelessly handled. Although somewhat viscid in damp weather, the pileus becomes 

 perfectly dry, and rather harsh than smooth to the touch when it has been brought in for a day. 



The autumn of 1851 was unfavourable to the mycological tribes, and several species, both of Boletus 

 and Agaric, generally abundant in particular spots, and which for that very reason had had their portraits 

 deferred till more rare subjects were attended to, never appeared at all ; while at this same period, when 

 the neighbourhood seemed quite denuded of our friends, the fragile delicate stranger ventured forth. It 

 was an extremely pleasant nook certainly, which gave shelter to numerous specimens of A. nictitans : they 

 were scattered sporadically, not in tufts or rings. 



The spring of 1852 is, perhaps, almost without parallel. North-east winds and white frosts are in- 

 jurious to all vegetable, and would they were only so to vegetable, life; to the fugitive tribes of soft- 

 tleslied funguses they are inimical to such a degi-ee, that perhaps months afterwards the delicate mycelium 

 or spawn may be discovered to have perished beneath the parching influence of 



" The sun by day and the moon by night," 



opportunity never having been allowed for an effort at self-assertion, much less display. We have seen 

 no Morels ; and although the rings of former crops are the greenest of the scanty herbage, we scarcely 

 hope to greet, among the blades of grass, our palatable 3Iousseron. Momseron ! the blackbirds and 



