230 MUSHROOMS DEDICATED TO SAINTS. 



atus. They probably were unaware they had hit upon a species 

 uncommon, small, and altogether unlikely to be the one intended. 

 It is also probable they did not know that the word " agaric " is 

 still familiarly used in France and Italy with about equal looseness 

 and latitude of meaning to the English employment of the words 

 "mushroom" and "toadstool." It may, in fact, mean almost 

 anything fungoid. Some true Agarics possess more or less fringe 

 upon their margins, as do some Cortinars and Lactars. But this 

 is a minute detail scarcely likely to be made a strong point of by 

 persons wishing to indicate a main feature of the plant. I think 

 it almost certain that the hanging spines of some Hydnum have 

 originated the idea of a fringe. Some of the tree-Hydna, such as 

 the Medusa's Head, are practically all fringe ; and one of them, 

 I am sure, is the "agaric " intended. But we so seldom see the 

 curious tree-Hydna in this country that I think it will answer the 

 purpose if we assume my old friend and favourite The Urchin of 

 the Woods, Hydnum repandum, to be St. Marcellus' Mushroom. 



St. Ckcilu's Mushroom. Saint's Day, Nov. 22nd. It will strike 

 every one that this must evidently be The Cecilia, Agarictis {Am.) 

 Cecilire. However, it is only within comparatively recent times 

 that this species has been differentiated and named apart from its 

 close ally The Grisette, Agaricus {Am.) vaginatus. The two were 

 formerly confounded together, and have equal right to the dedi- 

 cation. In fact, the latter has perhaps the better right, for, of the 

 two, it alone will be found so late as the saint's day. It is also a 

 dainty and wholesome esculent, while the former is thought unsafe 

 by some " toadstool-eaters." — W. D. H. 



