'18 ON SOIIE COMMON SPECIES OF EATABLE MUSHROOMS. 



poisonoas." Well, blessed are those that know better, for they 

 shall eat and rejoice exceedingly ! 



The Urchin of the Woods (153). This is a very desirable 

 species. It grows in much the same place as the Chantarelle, 

 and about the same season. It is of a pale creamy buff tint. The 

 Red Urchin (154) has a reddish-brown cap, but is otherwise 

 almost identical with its congener. The shape is irregular, and 

 the stem rarely in the centre. The point to be especially ob- 

 served is the Hymenium. On inverting an Urchin, it will be 

 found that the inferior surface of the cap is set with spines, 

 having the appearance of a brush, or of a hedgehog or sea- 

 urchin's coats. They are easily brushed off. The Urchin is not 

 considered so good as the Chanterelle on the Continent. How- 

 ever the author esteems it quite as highly. These two species 

 require quite a different style of cookery from the Pratelles, 

 which will be elsewhere entered into. 



The Parasols (35-44). These are a group of species like the 

 Pratelles, which may be regarded as one from a culinary point of 

 view. They gi-ow in grassy places, and are to be distinguished by 

 the following points. The stem is tall, hears a ring, has a htdhous 

 hase, but has no volva. The Pileusis shaggy or scaly, and has a central 

 boss on the disc. The Gills are remote from the stem. The whole 

 plant has the shape of a lady^s parasol. The Pasture Parasol (43), 

 the Slender Parasol (38), the Flaky Parasol (37), the Silky 

 Parasol (40), the Grey Parasol (44), and the Bossed Parasol (41), 

 is the order of relative gustatory merit, according to the author's 

 opinion. He has made some converts to fungus-eating by means 

 of dishes of Parasols ; for they are really more delicate and better 

 flavoured than the familiar Pi-atelles. 



Spring Mushrooms. So early as the end of March, if the 

 weather be propitious, a certain number of good edible species 

 appear. They continue till the end of May or first weeks of 

 June, but not later. Some have a second season in late autumn, 

 but the majority are solely of spring growth. The chief of them 

 are tlie following : 



The Morels (200-208). The three species of ]\Iorel may be con- 

 founded with each other, but can scarcely be confounded with 

 anything else, unless it be the equally wholesome Helvels. To 

 begin with, they appear only in spring. The description of them 

 is given in the catalogue, there being no special points that need 

 be particularized. They are of very local growth, but whero they 



