1870.1 BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY. 229 



little extra cooking to develop the flavour and correct indigesti- 

 bility. In [spite of all that has been said to the contrary, we 

 maintain that these agarics are entitled to the first place, and for 

 the second much rivalry exists between the orange-milk mushroom 

 (Lactarius delicious) and the Parasol Agaric (^Agaricus procerus'). 

 Both are readily distinguishable, and may be eaten with equal 

 impunity. The former is chiefly found in plantations of Scotch 

 tir and larch, is of an orange-brown colour, and firm flesh, and 

 yields, when bruised, an exudation of orange-red milk, which 

 turns green after a few minutes' exposure. The latter is common 

 in the pastures, and may be recognized by its tall habit, the stalk 

 gradually enlarging at the base, the umbo of a brownish colour 

 with spots or patches, and the gills white and unconnected with 

 the stem. The plum mushroom (A, prunulus) is for the autumn 

 months what the St. George's mushroom (J., gamhosiis) is for the 

 spring — a large fleshy fungus, delicate in flavour, though not so 

 choice as the Orcella, for which it is often mistaken. It is to be 

 found in shady places pretty generally throughout England, and is 

 conspicuous from its whiteness. The gills are close together and 

 of a pale rosy hue, and the smell of the plant has been compared 

 to that of fresh meal. 



We must mention two other fungi, common enough and easily 

 recognised, but of their culinary virtues we do not entertain 

 a very high opinion. These are the puff-ball, and the maned 

 agaric {Coprinus comatus). The former needs no description, 

 and perhaps others may be more fortunate than we have 

 been in detecting the latent flavour of omelette which it is 

 said to possess. The latter is called by Dr. Bull the "agaric of 

 civilisation." We have met with it in farm yards, on lawns, on 

 railway-cuttings, and, in fact, in nearly every waste place. It 

 looks like an attenuated cocoon, snow-white at first, but s-raduallv 

 changing in colour and splitting upwards in a dozen places. The 

 gills, white at first, become pink and then black ; the last stage, 

 which is very quickly reached, presaging the immediate dissolu- 

 tion of the plant, which gradually deliquesces into an inky-black 

 fluid. 



It would be easy to amplify this list, but we desire to avoid all 

 risks of confusing tho tyro's mind with too many details, and 

 have purposely confined our remarks to those fun2;i which belong- 

 to the autumn season. 



One caution must be addeJ. All agarics are more wholesome 



