A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 99 



Pileus. Half to one incli across, snow-white, smooth, hygropha- 

 nous, viscid in wet ; campanulate, convex, then nmbilicate, striate. 



Stem. One to two inches high, slender, even, smooth, straight, 

 naked, snow-white. 



Section. Flesh of equal thickness, white, thin, tough, trans- 

 lucent. Stem fistulose. Gills snow-white, thin, entire, arcuate, 

 distant, decurrent. Odourless. Flavour inviting. Spores white. 



Obs. In chapter vii. Though small, it is often plentiful, and makes good 

 dishes.— TT. D. H. 



(97.) HYGROPHORUS OVINUS ; The Sheep-hood. 



Habitat. On pasture flats and moorland sheep-walks. Scattei-ed. 



Season. August to November. Common. 



Pileus. One to two inches across, dingy, brownish, viscid in 

 wet, at length sub-squamulose ; conical, convex, then expanding, 

 revolute, undulate, gibbous. 



Stem. Two inches high, pallid, dingy, slender, smooth, glossy, 

 unequal, bent, naked. 



Section. Flesh pallid, thin, tough. Stem stuffed. Grills pallid, 

 then dingy, broad, arcuate, veined, decurrent. Odour and taste 

 agreeable. Spores white. 



Obs. According to Duchesne it is wholesome and good. — IV. D. H. 



(98.) HYGROPHORUS PRATENSIS ; The Melon-hood. 



Habitat. Downs and close-cropped pastures. In groups or 

 tufts. 



Season. July to November. Common. 



Pileus. One to two inches across, tawny-buff, dusky or whitish, 

 glabrous, moist ; convex, then plane but umbonate. Margin thin, 

 rimose, lobulate, undulate. 



Stem. One to two inches high, whitish, sleek, even, attenuate 

 below, naked. 



Section. Flesh thick centrally, whitish, tough. Stem stuffed. 

 Gills white or dusky, few, distant, thick, arcuate, unequal, deeply 

 decurrent. Scent like that of melon. Taste pleasing. Spores 

 white. 



Obs. This is a very commendable species, much liked by some Eaglish 

 fangus-eaters.— ^V. D. H. 



