OTHER BOLETI. I I 7 



some other features, but the under surface of the cap 

 is yellowish, and the flesh turns faintly blue when cut. 

 It is this latter feature which precludes our recom- 

 mending it, as it is better to have no exception to the 

 rule of discarding all species which turn blue when 

 cut. This is one of the rarer species, and therefore 

 would be no material accession to our list of edible 

 species. In view of the possibility of error, it is better 

 to remain on the safe side. 



Amongst small species the one which has given us 

 the greatest satisfaction has been the " granular 

 boletus " {Boletus granulatus). It has been seldom 

 recommended, and yet we prefer it to the edible 

 boletus, or indeed any other that we have tried. It 

 is one of the group which has a glutinous, sticky cap, 

 and grows on the ground under fir trees. The 

 colour is that peculiar warm, pinkish yellow, almost 

 indescribable, which some call gilvous, and which we 

 have likened to the surface of a sponge cake. A great 

 number of specimens will always be found growing 

 together, and the cap is seldom much over two inches 

 broad, at first convex, and then flattened with a little 

 convexity ; it is covered with a thick slime, which 

 makes the cap appear of a darker colour, until it 

 disappears, leaving only a little stickiness behind. 

 The flesh is white, with a slight yellowish tinge, and 

 rather firm. The pores on the under surface are 

 whitish at first, and then lemon coloured, with the 

 edges moist and granular, as if powdered with sugar. 



