WARTED CAPS. 7 I 



Before closing this chapter we may advert to another 

 common fungus, which has a warted cap, and a 

 volvate, or booted, base to the stem but without a ring. 

 Its scientific name signifies " sheathed mushroom " 

 {AgariciLS vaginatiis). The cap is rounded above, 

 longer than hemispherical, from an inch and a half to 

 three inches across, sometimes four inches when 

 expanded, white, mouse-coloured, or brownish, with 

 fragments of the outer membrane loosely adhering to 

 the surface, but soon washed away. The margin is 

 thin, and marked with parallel depressed lines. This 

 is often a useful feature for its determination. The 

 stem is white and slender, gradually attenuated 

 upwards, about six or seven inches long, blunt at the 

 base, but not bulbous, and sheathed with a large, 

 loose ragged volva, or stocking. The gills are snowy 

 white, not reaching to the stem, and the spores are 

 also white. 



Careful attention to some of these features in 

 particular, will obviate mistakes. The spots, or 

 irregular fragments, adhering to the cap, and the 

 loose ragged stocking at the base of the stem, which 

 latter is not bulbous, together with the parallel lines 

 on the edge of the cap, should be sufficient distinc- 

 tions to recognise this species anywhere. The cap is 

 comparatively thin in its flesh, and it is rather delicate 

 and fragile. The white variety always has the pre- 

 ference for cooking but the mouse-coloured forms are 

 most common. It is found on the ground in woods. 



