CHAPTER XXVI. 



FUNGI. 



" The Turf 

 Smells fresh, and rich in odoriferous herbs 

 And fungous fruits of earth, regales the sense 

 With luxury of unexpected sweets." 



Cowper. 



E pass from the extensive order of Agarics to 

 one of much smaller dimensions, the second 

 in the class characterised by the exposed 

 hymenium. Here this fruit-bearing stratum is spread 

 within pores instead of folds, and the order hence called 

 Polyporei. 



The Sap-balls are the first group in the Pore order. 

 When disposing of fungi in the usual insulting manner 

 of upsetting, we expect the reversed side to consist of 

 folds in the regular toadstool pattern, but we are occa- 

 sionally surprised (if surprise will condescend to be 

 aroused by a fungus !) to see the interior filled as with 

 sponge. The yellow Sap-ball (Boletus luteus, Plate 

 XVIII., Jig. 1), is as bright in its golden hue as the 

 orange Pholiota, and grows to a larger size. We have 

 frequently found it about Hawkhurst late in the summer, 

 and also in Herefordshire and Yorkshire. Its favourite 

 habitat is fir woods. The White Sap-ball (B. laricinus) 



