62 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



The gills are numerous, and either rounded behind or 

 running down the stem, at first of the same colour as 

 the cap, but becoming ruddy with age. The spores 

 are quite white. For the table we always collect 

 specimens which retain their violet blue colour, and 

 of these we have seen sufficient within an hour to fill 

 a bushel basket. It is, in some places, where there 

 are plenty of dead leaves on the ground, one of the 

 commonest autumnal species. In other places it 

 seems to be comparatively rare. Once recognized 

 and identified it cannot be confounded with any 

 other species, and we have breakfasted upon it daily 

 for a week, without surfeit or inconvenience. It has 

 but a very slight odour, and possesses a more delicate 

 flavour than either of the foregomg. 



The St George mushroom has secured for itself in 

 all countries where it is known golden opinions. In 

 some instances this is probably due to the successful 

 intervention of the cook, since fungi, more than aught 

 else, depend much on the efficiency of the cook. If 

 the cooking of fungi has not yet been elevated to the 

 position of a high art, it deserves to be, for the same 

 fungus will please or displease with the merits of the 

 operator. Dr Badham declared this to be the most 

 savoury fungus with which he was acquainted, and 

 justly considered so over almost the whole continent 

 of Europe. Edwin Lees, who was a pronounced 

 mycophagist, was " inclined to give it the highest 

 place as an agaric for the table. There is nothing 



