THE SPARASSIS. 1 93 



trace of sand, and lay them on a soft cloth to dry. 

 Put them when so prepared in wide mouthed bottles, 

 with g. blade of mace, a teaspoonful of peppercorns, 

 and a teaspoonful of mustard seed in each. Then 

 cover with the strongest white pickling vinegar boiling 

 hot. When quite cold they should be closely corked 

 or tied down, but they will not keep for more than 

 three months. 



XXIX.— THE SPARASSIS. 



Amongst little known British fungi there are many 

 which are so small that the majority of the natives 

 might reasonably be excused for never having 

 observed them, or, even if pointed out to them, for 

 not manifesting any particular interest in them. It 

 can hardly be expected that those who are not 

 personally devoted to the study of fungi, or who are 

 not sufficiently advanced in their love of Nature to 

 take interest in all the manifestations of her variety and 

 power, should trouble themselves about some curious 

 fungus no larger than a pea, or even as minute as a 

 grain of mustard seed. But, when the object in 

 question is as large as a man's head it becomes more 

 astonishing that it should be wholly unknown to the 

 average sportsman, or holiday maker, and that it has 



N 



