woods, and especially pine woods, also in open places. It has 

 not been classed among the edible species by European writers, 

 bnt it has been repeatedly eaten in this country, and I myself 

 have partaken of it. It is not very attractive in flavor, and prob- 

 ably should be classed as a second or third rate mushroom, but it 

 'is better than none and is described here for the benefit of those 

 who are not particular about the flavor, and who may not always 

 be able to get better ones. 



The Ifasked tricholoma, Tricholoma personatum, on the other 

 hand, is one of the best flavored mushrooms, and fortunately 

 has a Avide range, and is sometimes found in considerable abun- 

 dance. When young the cap is very convex and firm with the 

 margin minutely downy or sprinkled with a slight mealiness and 

 incurved. In the mature phmt it is softer, broadly convex or 

 nearly plane with the thin margin spreading and naked. In 



very wet weather it is apt to 

 be water-soaked and to have 

 the margin wavy, or even 

 turned upwards, giving the 

 cap a sort of cup-shape. 

 Usually it is pale lilac when 

 young, changing with age to 

 taAvuy or rusty hues, especial- 

 ly in the centre. Sometimes 



Tricholoma personatum. Clitoiybe media. ^}ie (>ap jg wllitish Or gray Or 



pale violaceous. Its flesh when dry is whitish, and has an agree- 

 able, pleasant flavor. 



The gills are closely placed, rounded next the stem, more nar- 

 row toward the margin of the cap, and of a, pale but undecided 

 color,, often with a faint shade of lilac or violet, especially when 

 young. 



The stem is rather short and stout, solid, adorned with incon- 

 spicuous fibrils and downy or mealy particles when young and 

 fresh, but becoming smooth with maturity. It is often slightly 

 thickened at the base, and in variety hulhosum it is distinctly 

 bulbous. Its color is similar to that of the cap, but usually a 

 little paler. 



'. The cap is 2 to 5 inches broad, and the stem 1 to 3 inches 

 long and generally -J to f of an inch thick. Usually it grows 

 singly or in groups, but occasionally in clusters of several indi- 

 viduals. It occurs in autumn, sometimes continuing very late in 

 the season, and should be sought in thin woods and open bushy 

 places. 



I^earlv all writers on this subject speak well of its edible qual- 



54 



