POISONOUS MUSHROOMS. 89 



LIBERTY CAPS. 



Agaricus (Psilocybe) semilanceatus. 



(Plate XI. Fig. 2.) 



One of the commonest of fungi, amongst 

 grass in pastures and by roadsides, during 

 summer and autumn. The cap is of that 

 peculiar conical form which is convention- 

 ally associated with the " cap of liberty," 

 about half an inch broad, and a little longer, 

 sharp pointed at the top, and wholly dirty 

 white or ochre. The stem is long and 

 flexuous, according to the length of the 

 grass, mostly four to five inches, and 

 scarcely so thick as a straw, and whitish ; 

 gills pale brown at first, and finally nearly 

 black ; spores purple-brown. There is a 

 form which has the base of the stem of a 

 distinct indigo-blue. It may not be a true 

 variety, but it is the most dangerous form. 

 This little species is included here because 

 it was instrumental in poisoning two sets 

 of children in the same year, and about 



