WARTED CAPS. 67 



One of these " warted cap " mushrooms is very 

 common in the early autumn, amongst grass, gener- 

 ally under trees. It is of a dullish lilac tinged with 

 pink, becoming redder with age (Agancus rube- 

 scejts), and the prominent warts are small, paler, and 

 very numerous, especially on the upper or central 

 portion of the cap, which is two, three, or four inches 

 in diameter. The redness on all parts of the fungus 

 is a dull brick red, and not a bright scarlet, or orange. 

 This is a special caution, as there is such a bright 

 coloured species, especially under birch trees, which 

 must be avoided. Returning to the species we were 

 describing, it has a thick stem, four or five inches long, 

 and an inch thick at the swollen base, but attenuated 

 upwards near the top is a broad, pendulous white 

 ring. The gills are white, broad, and do not touch 

 the stem. Very soon the gills and whitish stem 

 show reddish stains, the bottom of the stem especially 

 being darker, and reddish. When cut longitudinally 

 down the stem, the bottom portion of the flesh is 

 stained with red. The volva, or sheath at the base 

 adheres so closely as to be scarcely distinguishable, 

 except for a rough edge like an indistinct ring at the 

 base. The flesh of the cap is white, often with a 

 slight tinge of red, and thick. It is pleasant both in 

 taste and smell, but very soon the stem is perforated, 

 and eaten by larvae, as it becomes mature. They 

 are in their best condition before the cap is fully 

 expanded, and whilst it is still hemispherical. 



