lO 



GUIDE TO THE MODELS OF FUNGI. 



and ring white ; volva commonly immersed in the soil, or buried 

 among dead leaves and twigs. 



This species is an extremely common inhabitant of woods. It 

 has a penetrating and ofTensive smell, and is known to be poisonous. 

 A case is recorded in the Lancet for 1879 by Mr. C. B. Plowright. 

 Two boys ate part of a raw specimen abaut 3 p.m., and no ill results 

 followed until midnight, when one boy became sick and delirious. 

 He died, after two or three days, from the narcoto-irritant poison of 

 the fungus. 



2. Agaricus muscarius L. — Pileus scarlet-crimson, viscous in wet 

 weather, and spotted with white or buff warts ; gills at maturity 



sometimes of a pale sulphur-yellow tint ; 

 stalk bulbous, and furnished with a closely 

 adpressed volva and broad ring. The flesh 

 is sulphur-yellow under the skin. Varieties 

 occur with a yellow, brown, or whitish 

 viscous pileus. 



This species grows in woods, generally 

 near birch trees, sometimes among firs. The 

 poisonous alkaloid muscarine is obtained 

 from A. muscarius, about 200 lb. of the 

 fungus being required for the production 

 of I oz. of muscarine. Auiaiiitine is also 

 yielded by this species. It is known to be 

 poisonous, causing a form of intoxication, 

 and sometimes delirium and death. The 

 Rev. M. J. Berkeley has recorded a case 

 from eating it. In past times a decoction of 

 this fungus was used for killing flies; whence its name, from mitsca, 

 a fly. A preparation said to be a solvent for corns is made from it. 



FiR. 5. — A. muscarius L. 

 (One-quarter natural size.) 



of " deep intoxication ' 



3. Agaricus pantherinus DC. — Pileu.s olive-brown, viscid, and 

 sprinkled with regularly arranged white warts; gills and flesh 

 wholly and invariably white. 



It resembles the two last species in being poisonous, and 

 occurring in woods and pastuies. It has sometimes been mistaken 

 for the following species, A. rubescens, which is edible. A ready 

 means of distinguishing them is to be found in the fact that, on being 

 bruised or broken, A. rubescens always changes to a foxy-red colour, 

 while A. pantherinus is permanently white. 



4. Agaricus rubescens Pers. — Pileus reddish-brown, sometimes 

 pale or almost flesh-coloured, not viscous, more or less covered with 

 mealy, pale buff or whitish warts ; stalk rufescent ; volva almost 

 obliterated. 



This species is easily distinguished from its allies by the change 

 in colour of its flesh noted already'. The reddening, however, must 

 he taken together witli its other characters. Every Agaric which 



