THE EDIBLE BOLETUS. IO9 



where more varied kinds of fungi are extensively- 

 eaten than with us, there are a vast number of 

 popular names, but these have probably followed 

 upon the recognition of their alimentary value and 

 not preceded it. The one broad distinction between 

 these two kinds of fungi can be grasped by a very 

 infantile mind, and is not liable to error. The 

 agarics (which include "mushrooms" and "toad- 

 stools " of the vernacular) have plates or gills on the 

 under side of the cap by which they are surmounted, 

 and these plates extend, or radiate from the stem in 

 the centre to the margin of the cap. They may vary 

 exceedingly in number, in colour, in their proximity to 

 each other, and even in thickness, but radiating gills 

 of some kind are always present. In the Boletz, on 

 the contrary, there are no gill plates on the under 

 surface of the cap, but their place is occupied by a 

 level surface which is covered with small punctures 

 or perforations, looking as if it had been carefully 

 and regularly pricked with a pin. These pores serve 

 the same purpose in the economy of the plant as the 

 flat surface of the gills in the agarics, but the differ- 

 ence in structure is common to all Boleti, in the same 

 manner as gill plates are common to the Agarics. 

 We might term these latter " gill-bearing," and the 

 former " pore-bearing " fungi. 



If these observations are carefully perused and 

 comprehended, the difference between agarics and 

 boleti will no longer remain a mystery. Cut a 



