﻿OF 
  BRITISH 
  FUNGI. 
  S9 
  

  

  esteemed. 
  It 
  is 
  a 
  spring 
  fungus, 
  at 
  which 
  season 
  large 
  

   baskets 
  of 
  them 
  are 
  exposed 
  for 
  sale 
  at 
  Vienna. 
  The 
  

   pileus 
  expands 
  to 
  nearly 
  a 
  plane 
  surface, 
  and 
  is 
  smooth 
  

   and 
  clay-coloured. 
  The 
  straight 
  tough 
  stem 
  is 
  of 
  the 
  

   same 
  colour 
  as 
  the 
  pileus, 
  and 
  the 
  gills 
  are 
  loose 
  and 
  

   whitish. 
  In 
  size 
  it 
  is 
  always 
  small, 
  and 
  in 
  quality 
  so 
  

   mediocre 
  that 
  one 
  is 
  led 
  to 
  wonder 
  at 
  its 
  becoming 
  a 
  

   marketable 
  commodity 
  anywhere 
  (PI. 
  14, 
  fig. 
  3). 
  

  

  We 
  ar 
  ■ 
  not 
  aware 
  that 
  the 
  sub-genus 
  Mycena, 
  

   amongst 
  its 
  fifty 
  P>ritish 
  species, 
  contains 
  one 
  that 
  

   can 
  be 
  termed 
  esculent. 
  For 
  the 
  mycologist 
  they 
  

   possess 
  features 
  of 
  interest, 
  but 
  none 
  for 
  the 
  cook. 
  

  

  Of 
  Omphalia 
  our 
  report 
  must 
  be 
  to 
  the 
  same 
  effect. 
  

   Indeed, 
  the 
  species 
  are 
  generally 
  so 
  small 
  that 
  they 
  can 
  

   establish 
  no 
  claims 
  to 
  the 
  honour 
  of 
  an 
  experiment. 
  

  

  The 
  last 
  sub-genus 
  of 
  the 
  white-spored 
  Agarics 
  i£ 
  

   Pleurotus, 
  or 
  side-foot 
  as 
  some 
  of 
  the 
  species 
  have 
  been 
  

   called. 
  This 
  name 
  is 
  probably 
  derived 
  from 
  two 
  Greek 
  

   words 
  signifying 
  side-bone 
  or 
  ribs. 
  

  

  The 
  species 
  contained 
  in 
  this 
  group 
  are 
  lovers 
  of 
  

   wood, 
  upon 
  which 
  they 
  are 
  generally 
  found 
  growing, 
  

   some 
  on 
  living 
  trees, 
  others 
  on 
  dead 
  stumps 
  or 
  posts. 
  

   The 
  stem 
  is 
  either 
  inserted 
  into 
  the 
  cap 
  away 
  from 
  the 
  

   centre 
  or 
  in 
  the 
  margin, 
  or 
  it 
  is 
  absent 
  altogether. 
  

   Some 
  are 
  not 
  larger 
  than 
  the 
  thumb-nail 
  and 
  solitary, 
  

   while 
  others 
  are 
  large 
  and 
  grow 
  in 
  dense 
  masses. 
  Some 
  

   are 
  occasionally 
  subjected 
  to 
  culinary 
  operations, 
  but 
  

   none 
  present 
  very 
  great 
  attractions 
  to 
  the 
  epicure. 
  

  

  Tne 
  trunks 
  of 
  elms 
  often 
  support 
  a 
  large 
  and 
  beau- 
  

   tiful 
  species, 
  which 
  not 
  only 
  makes 
  itself 
  a 
  home 
  

  

  