A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BEITISH FUNGI. 85 



uneven, narrow, close, ventricose, free but approximate. Odour 

 faint. Taste insipid. Spores brown, scarcely purple. 



Obs. It is good enough, but very watery. In chapter vii. Looks like 

 A. gramraopodius. — W. D. H. 



(64.) AGARICUS RUFESCENS ; Psalliota rnfescens ; The Red 



Pratelle. 



Habitat. Damp z-ich pastures. In groups. 



Season. August to October. Common. 



Pileus. Tbree to six inches across, rufous brown, rough and 

 fibrillose; at first globose, then expanding, convex, or plane. 

 Margin thick, fimbriate with fragments of veil. 



Stem. Two to three inches high, stout, white, unequal, tapered 

 abruptly at base. Ring white, large, torn, fibrous. 



Section. Flesh white, reddening where exposed, thick, juicy. 

 Stem stuffed. Gills pale pink, then bright pink, lastly pinkish- 

 brown, unequal, broad, rounded behind, free. Odour strong. 

 Taste pleasant. Spores purple-brown. 



Ohs. In chapter vii. I consider it the best flavoured of the Pratelles. — 

 W. D. H. 



(65.) AGARICTJS VILLATICTJS; Psalliota viUatica ; The 

 Shaggy Pratelle. 



Habitat. On high ground in rich meadows. Solitary, or in 

 small groups. 



Season. August to October. Not very common. 



Pileus. Six to eighteen inches across, tawny- white at first, then 

 tawny or red-brown, fibrillose and shaggy; rounded, even, ex- 

 panded, convex or plane. Margin fimbriate, sericeo-fibrillose. 



Stem. Four to twelve inches high, white, perhaps brownish, 

 silky or scaly, thick, swollen above the base. Ring large, entire, 

 white, pendulous. 



Section. Flesh white, reddening where exposed, thick, juicy. 

 Stem solid. Gills pink, then red-brown, thin, numerous, attenuate 

 at both ends, almost remote. Odour strong. Taste pleasant. 

 Spores red-brown-purple. 



Obs. Very fine flavoured and luscious. It has been somewhat suspected, but 

 my experience is that it is quite wholesome. I believe it contains no deleterious 

 principle, but perhaps may disagree with some on account of its richness. — 

 W. D. H. 



