194 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



not acquired for itself even a popular name. Some 

 excuse may be made when the object is so exceedingly 

 rare as only to be seen a few times in the course of a 

 generation ; but when it is believed to make its 

 appearance almost annually, in some place or other, 

 not wholly unfrequented, there is more ground for 

 surprise. 



The fungus now in question appeals not only to 

 the curious and the scientific, but also to the stomach 

 of the lover of good things, as much as would a fine 

 bunch of asparagus, and yet it is comparatively 

 unknown. Mr Worthington Smith records the 

 dimensions of a specimen found at the base of Scotch 

 firs in Kent a few years ago. It took two men to 

 carry the box in which it was packed, and the box 

 afterwards became a spacious rabbit hutch. The 

 sparassis was very compact, solid, and heavy, it 

 measured three feet and a half in circumference, stood 

 ten inches high above the ground, with a solid heavy 

 base of mycelium for six inches beneath the surface. 

 It was divided and carried by two persons to 

 Loughton, in two fish baskets, one basket being 

 sufficiently heavy for one person to carry with con- 

 venience. This was no microscopical object which 

 could be readily overlooked. During one day of a 

 foray in Hampshire two or three specimens were 

 found the size of a child's head, but these were 

 considered small. Twice in one season we have met 

 with them nine inches in diameter. 



