THE MUSHROOM FAMILY. 523 



stalk, and is rendered visible only by inverting the fungus. The spores 

 are exceedingly numerous, and extremely minute, but they do not 

 appear to be independent reproductive bodies, many frequently con- 

 curring to originate a new individual. It is quite impossible here to 

 give an account of its various developments, which must be learnt 

 from books especially devoted to the Fungi. The same as to their 

 generic and specific differences, the latter of which are difficult to 

 describe in words. Many fine volumes of coloured drawings of Fungi 

 are in existence, but in Manchester we are rather ill-provided with 

 them. Bolton's "History of the Funguses growing about Halifax" in 

 four quarto volumes, of which there are copies both at the Camp-field 

 and at the Chetham Free Libraries, is the only work within reach worth 

 consulting. A few species are figured in Curtis, which should by no 

 means be overlooked. 



The number of British species described by Rev. M. J. Berkeley in 

 Smith's " English Flora " (vol. 5, 1836) is 1487, including both the 

 Agarics and the microscopic parasites, but there are unquestionably 

 very many omitted. I have not yet given proper attention to the family, 

 and have noted near Manchester only the following one hundred and 

 seventeen. There are probably quite five hundred more, — a fine field 

 for the scrutiny of rising botanists. All are more or less common in 

 their localities, and generally speaking, to be found in the autumn, few 

 appearing before August, and the greater part as the leaves are falling 

 from the trees. Many of the smaller species are in perfection in mid- 

 winter and early spring. Special localities can but seldom be given, 

 as the Fungi are very uncertain plants, plentiful in a given spot one 

 year, and then not seen again there perhaps for several years. The 

 best hunting-grounds in our neighbourhood are Alderley, Dunham 

 Park, and the valley of the Bollin, all the way from Lymm to Styal. 

 The " pileus " is the circular cap that constitutes the most conspicuous 

 portion of the Agaric. 



HABITATS AND LOCALITIES, 

 r. — Pastures, waysides, among grass, and often in gardens. 

 W. — Woods and plantations, on the ground, especially under fir-trees. 

 S. — Stumps of trees, upon their felled trunks, and on dead sticks and branches, 

 where moist and shaded. 



Agaricua phalloides. W. 



Curtis, ii. 364 (as Agaricus verrucosus, right hand figure) ; Bolton, ii. 

 48 (as Agaricus vernalis). 



White in every part, and very poisonous. 



