POISONOUS MUSHROOMS. 85 



CONIC LAWN MUSHROOM. 



Hygrophorus conicus. 



(Plate X. Fig. 2.) 



Amongst the numerous species of brightly- 

 coloured little fungi which flourish on lawns 

 in the late autumn is this one, which has 

 a conical cap, like an extinguisher, about 

 an inch high, and of a deep yellow or dull 

 orange colour at first, but soon turning 

 nearly black wherever bruised or broken. 

 The gills and hollow stem are paler and 

 yellowish, changing colour like the cap. It 

 is wholly sticky when moist, but shining 

 when dry, with a strong and rather un- 

 pleasant odour. Not only does it flourish 

 on lawns, but also in pastures, amongst 

 short grass, and by roadsides. Whether 

 it is really poisonous is open to doubt, as 

 we are aware of no evidence to that effect, 

 and yet it is always included as suspicious 

 amongst noxious species, partly perhaps on 

 account of its turning black, and partly 



