244 FUNGI. 



flowers if possible — and if not, ferns or mosses. A few 

 lingering sprays of the Lesser Scull-cap rewarded our 

 search, but no new ferns, although the Spreading Shield- 

 fern was flourishing in such extraordinary size and ele- 

 gance, that we were half inclined to erect it into a new 

 species. We collected a few^ mosses, but these were of 

 the kinds most frequently found ; and were on the point 

 of grieving that the botanical season was OA T er, when we 

 came in sight of a number of Fly Agarics (Amanitus 

 muscarius, Plate XVII., Jig. 1) dotting the ground 

 beneath some beech trees, and exhibiting every stage of 

 growth, from chestnut-sized buttons, closely enveloped in 

 their felt- wrappers, to umbrella-shaped, half 7 grown speci- 

 mens, the thick veil just breaking from the edges of the 

 cap, and the crimson surface closely dotted with the torn 

 fragments of the wrapper : and full-grown stately tables, 

 the glossy crimson skin almost or quite free from the 

 scraps of white felt, and the veil gone, except for a frill 

 round the neck of the stem. We exclaimed at the beauty 

 of the plant, regretting that they were not such as we 

 were in search of, and would therefore afford no pleasing 

 occupation for our pencils on the morrow, nor any 

 memorial of our happy day, until the wisest of our party 

 suggested that we should begin to draw the fungi too ; 

 and thus a fresh subject of interest was brought before 

 us, which has been a source of great happiness to each 

 who that day entered upon the pursuit of it. 



How many scenes does that gorgeous Agaric recall to 

 my memory. A gentle lady, driving through the stately 

 plantations surrounding the country-seat of Mr. Beresford 

 Hope — " Oh, how beautiful," I exclaim ; and she, with 



