THE MILKY MUSHROOM. 87 



may be heretics who contend for precedence on be- 

 half of two or three other kinds of fungi, for which 

 names do not profess so much. Taking for granted 

 that this is a delicious mushroom, it must always be 

 sought after under fir trees. It will be waste of time 

 to hunt for it anywhere else. Fortunately, it grows 

 in company, and when one has been found it is 

 probable that twenty will follow. September is the 

 most favourable month, and the first week in October 

 is usually too late, except for two or three belated 

 individuals. The cap is three or four inches in dia- 

 meter, of a dull reddish orange colour, dimpled or 

 depressed a little in the centre, with the edge turned 

 in at first, and for a long time afterwards. The cap 

 is zoned with concentric bands of brighter colour, but 

 is liable to be discoloured, because, wherever touched, 

 or kicked, or bruised, it becomes of a dull green. 

 The stem is always short, so that the cap grows very 

 near to the ground ; sometimes scarcely more than 

 an inch long, and a little attenuated downwards. 

 The gills are not very close together, and arched so 

 that they run a little way down the stem, a little paler 

 than the cap. The most noteworthy feature is that 

 the milk is orange at first, and turns green by ex- 

 posure to the air. It is this which causes the decol- 

 ouration of the cap when bruised. As there is no 

 other fungus which has an orange milk changing to 

 green, there is no danger of confusion. When cut 

 through the cap and stem its identity will at once be 



