58 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



in. high. Dr. Cooke and Prof. Peck both give this as a species, though 

 Fries considers it a variet3^ of A. phalloides. It is readily distin- 

 guished from white forms of A. vaginatus, or of A. volvatus by the pre- 

 sence of the annulus. 



b. Volva definitely circumscissile, the margined base persistent, the 

 upper j> art separating into thick warts upon the p ileus. 



3. A. MuscARius, Linn. Pileus couvexo expanded; the margin stri- 

 ate; the flesli beneath the viscid cuticle yellowish. Stipe cobwebby 

 within, soon hollow, ovate-bulbous at the base; the volva adnate, con- 

 centricall}' scaly-margined; the annulus superior, lax. Lamellte reach- 

 ing the stipe and decurrent in striae. Spores .008 X -005 mm. 



In woods, not abundant in our region. This species does not appear 

 in Lea's Catalogue, but I have met with it in all localities; it is very 

 common in the Eastern States. Pileus 3-6 in. broad, stipe 4-8 in. high. 

 The color of the European plant is commonl}^ orange or scarlet, but in 

 this country it is usuall}' bright yellow, sometimes var\ang to whitish. 

 The lamellae are white, sometimes with a yellowish tint. It is always 

 to be distinguished by the scaly-margined bulbous base of the stipe- 

 This plant, as its name indicates, is called the "Fly Agaric," because its 

 flesh has been used to poison flies, bugs, etc. la suflicient quantities, 

 it is a highly narcotic violent poison, producing delirium and death. 

 It is habituall}^ used by some of the Tartar tribes of Eastern Asia to 

 produce intoxication : a curious account of this may be found in Gold- 

 smith's Letters of a "Citizen of the World," letter xxxii. This state- 

 ment has recently been verified by George Kennan in a volume entitled 

 " Tent-life in Siberia," page 203. 



4. A. PANTHERiNus, DC. — Pilcus convexo-expaudcd ; the margin 

 striate ; the flesh beneath the viscid cuticle white. Stipe stufled, then 

 hollow, nearly glabrous ; the base ochreate b}^ the volva, the margin of 

 which is entire and obtuse. Lamellce attenuate, free. Spores .0076 X 

 .0048 mm. 



In pastures along the borders of woods. Pileus 4-6 in. in diameter, 

 stipe 5-7 in. long. Pileus white or brownish, never yellow or red, when 

 dr}', soft to the touch like kid leatlier; the annulus is usually midwa}' 

 of the stipe or distant from its apex, it is often found deflexed or with 

 its margin turnetl upward; the volva invests the base of the stipe 

 smoothl}', and has a separable or free margin, which is bluntly obtuse 

 or truncate. The species is reputed poisonous. 



