A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 121 



unequal, conical, fragile, separable, decurrent. Odour slight. Taste 

 faintly aci-id. Spores cream-colour. 



Obs. Included in chapter vil. I esteem it one of the very best edible 

 fungi. Abroad it is much eaten, but considered less recherche than the Chan- 

 tarelle. However, I think I prefer it of the two. I am told it is very abundant 

 in the woods bordering the White Sea, We might profitably import it thence, 

 if the British public could be awaked to a just appreciation of it. It is common 

 enough here. — W. D. H. 



(154.) HYDNUM EUFESCENS ; The Red Urchin. 



Habitat. On bare ground in woodlands ; under pines and oaks. 

 Solitary, confluent, or in groups. 



Season. August to October. Not very common. 



Fileiis. One to four inches across, tawny or red-tan ; compact, 

 irregular, undulate, lobulate, repand ; smooth or finely tomentose. 

 Margin arcuate, sinuate, acute. 



Stem. One to two inches high, white, at length tawny, stout, 

 irregular, compressed, excentric. 



Section. Flesh white, turning tawny where exposed, thick, com- 

 pact, brittle. Stem solid. Spines whitish, then buif, numerous, 

 unequal, conical, short, fragile, decurrent. Odour of horse-radish. 

 Taste pungent and bitterish. Spores whitish. 



Ohs. In chapter vii. It has been regarded as a mere variety of H. repan- 

 dum ; but I find it differs a good deal in locality as well as in habit, and 

 deserves specific place. It is good, but not quite so excellent as the other. — 

 W, D. H. 



OBDEB POLYPOBEL 

 Genus BOLETUS. 



Obs. I would here refer the reader to the remarks on the Bolets which I 

 have made in chapter vii. I repeat that the blackish-blue stain which affects 

 many species when bruised is not any indication as to whether that species be 

 esculent or noxious. The natural tint of the Pores is a more reliable guide, and 

 should be attentively studied by comparison. There are nineteen species well 

 attested to be wholesome edibles, and their great abundance and large size 

 ought to make them valuable. Yet it is this genus which bears the deepest 

 stigma among our country folk, and to which they most emphatically apply the 

 opprobrious epithet of " toadstools." In the other catalogue I shall describe 

 such Bolets as are really noxious, and shall also indicate the remaining British 

 species whose qualities have not been ascertained as yet. The amount of 

 nutritious food offered by Bolets every year is something prodigious, and this 

 at present goes all to waste in England. I deplore the fact, and would do all 

 I can to remedy it. — IV. D. H. 



