EDIBLE MUSHROOMS. 49 



HORSE MUSHROOM. 



Agaricus (Psalliota) arvensis. 



(Plate V. Fig. 1.) 



The Horse Mushroom is larger than the 

 Common Mushroom, and the gills are not 

 at first pink, but of a dirty white. We 

 have found it to be the common species 

 in marshes, where it will reach a diameter 

 of from seven to nine inches, and more ; 

 growing occasionally in rings, or parts 

 of rings, and with a much stronger odour 

 than the Common Mushroom. The cap is 

 quite smooth, and soft like kid-leather, 

 with a yellowish tint, and no indication of 

 scales. The stem has a large, ragged collar 

 or ring, and the interior is spongy at the 

 centre. It has a tendency to become pale 

 brownish when cut or bruised. For eating, 

 these caps are certainly to be preferred 

 before they are fully expanded and flattened. 

 The stem and the thick centre of the cap 

 are liable to be perforated by insects, and 



D 



