more in odour the spring Prunulus {A. Georgii). Indeed, before the distinctive spores ripen, small young 

 specimens of A. Prunulus and A. Georgii, if we could (which we never shall be able to do) place them 

 side by side, might puzzle even the learned. We entertain no doubt that this, and not A. orcellus, is the 

 autumnal Prunulus of Italy. It is certain A. orcellus in no way resembles A. Georgii, the " Prugnuolo ;" 

 its flexible thin pileus, and short, often almost obliterated stem, with a tendency always to excentricity, 

 beside the pink tinge of the decurrent gills, render it almost as distinct from the soHd rotund spring 

 mushroom, as were the mouse and the bird of the fable, wliile between them stands the bat, A. Prunulm, 

 with characters common to both. In the compact greyish pileus, liidden among mossy grasses, we have 

 the type of a youthful A. Georgii, while, when aged a)id reddened beneath, a similitude to the most regular 

 forms of A. orcellus obtains. As an esculent, A. Prunulus is very good ; but it must not be placed in 

 comparison with the prince of Agarics, albeit the Itahans unpolitely style that " Grumato bastardo." 



When we state that A. orcellus grows in rings, dense masses destroying the herbage, as is the case 

 with many Agarics, is not intended, but merely that a circle, often twenty feet in diameter, may be traced, 

 each pileus, perhaps, being a foot or more distant from its neighbours ; this circle extends itself outwardly 

 year by year in the same spot, always under tall trees where woodlands have been partially cleared, not 

 among underwood, the closeness of which is inimical to most funguses, unless to those which grow on 

 decaying timber. A. Prumdus is very uncommon in England : we have only found a very scanty growth 

 of it twice. 



