structure becomes very apparent when the colour changes on tlie stem being cut across. "We are told that 

 t!ie Russulas are juiceless, and yet A. adiistus bleeds when broken ; so does one variety of the common 

 mushroom, but these sanguine juices are not sunilar to the flowing milk of those Agarics belonging to the 

 Galorrheus division ; it cannot be expressed in drops in the same way, nor is it of the same consistence as that, 

 which coagulates into little cream-cheeses. Fries has two Agarics which become Adust in old age, in a 

 similar manner, tlie cliief distinction between them being whether they turn colom- or not, when cut in 

 their juicy state. His Adiistus is hmmdable, therefore his Nigricans is our Adiistus Ele-phantinus, and he 

 himself identifies it with the plant of Sowerby. 



Krombholz says that the flavour of this Agaric is acrid and burning, its scent faint and unpleasant. 

 In our own experience, as well as that of our friend Dr. Badliam, tliis is not so in England ; Sowerby says, 

 " it has a pleasant nut-like taste," with which we entirely agree ; a giU not only has the flavour, but the 

 exact consistence of a section of filbert ; and it is this crisp rigidity alone wliich has deterred us from 

 making gastronomic experiments upon it ; the substance is probably indigestible. " They are so abundant 

 in some parts of Kensington Gardens, that when in a black state, which they are during great part of the 

 year, a casual observer would think fires had been made where they grow." (Sowerby.) In this state a 

 pretty parasitic plant, resembling in general appearance a small Agaric, sometimes grows upon them ; it is 

 an Astero'pJiora, either A. Agaricoides or A. Lj/coperdoides. 



The Agaric wjiich appears most likely to be mistaken for this is Agaricus necator of BuUiard, Lac- 

 tariiis turpis of Eries, the deadly milky Agaric ; this " Destroyer " is fortunately very rare, has a decided 

 greenish olive tinge on its sombre epidermis, and yields a very acrid white milk. A. vellereus grows in the 

 same localities and yields acrid white milk, but we have given its portrait ; and A. exsuccus is always dis- 

 tinguishable from other Agarics possessing dirty white infundibuliform pileuses, by a tinge of verdigris on 

 the gills. None of these are persistent in the same manner ; A. adustus may be found in its mummy state 

 by the side of young plants of the succeeding season. 



