144 BBPOBT OF THE BTATK BOTANIST. 



of an epidermis which remains entire in a small patch on the 

 very top of the cap. Except the top and the scales the cap is 

 white, but in mature plants it often becomes sordid or blackish 

 toward the thin margin as if it were stained or soaked by the 

 inky fluid formed from the gills. 



The gills at lirst are closely crowded together and white, but 

 soon pinkisli, reddish or purplish tints appear, which quickly 

 change to black. Sometimes all these hues may be seen at one 

 time in one plant. 



The stem is white, smooth and hollow. In the young plant it 

 is furnished with a collar which is movable or but slightly ad- 

 herent. It is easily destroyed and has often disappeared at 

 maturity. 



The cap is one and a half to three inches long before expan- 

 sion. The stem is three to five inches long and one-fourth to 

 one-third of an inch thick. It grows in rich loose earth by road- 

 sides, in pastures, waste places or dumping grounds. It appears 

 in autumn and may sometimes be found (juite late in the season. 

 It is quite fragile and must be handled with care. It is very 

 tender and digestible and scarcely inferior to the Common mush- 

 room in flavor, though some think it is improved in flavor by 

 cooking a mushroom or two with it. It is lit for the table only 

 before the gills have assumed their black color, but even after 

 that it is sometimes used in making catsup. 



" When young it is very sapid and delicate;" " cooked quickly 

 in butter with pepper and salt, it is excellent;" "edible, tender 

 and delicious ; " " in flavor it much resembles the Common mush- 

 room, to which it is quite equal, if not superior ; it is clearly more 

 digestible and less likely to disagree with persons of delicate con- 

 stitutions," are opinions recorded iu its favor. 



Coprinus atramentarius i'>. 

 Inky Copkinus. 



PloteU. Figs. 7 to 11. 



Pileus at first ovate, becoming expanded, glabrous or with a 

 few obscure, spot-like scales in the center, grayish-brown ; lamelhe 

 crowded, at first whitish and ilocculose on the edge, then black ; 

 stem glabrous, lioUow, white or whitish ; spores elliptical, black, 

 .0003 to .0004 in. long. 



