‘ 103 
‘ Agaricus melleus. On many occasions we have noticed different 
species of fungi partly eaten by some animals of the rodent family 
where no squirrels were to be seen. Can it be possible that hares 
and rabbits, rats or mice, make a meal off these dainties at times? 
Many rambles have we had in spring in search of that most 
delicious of all the edible fungi, locally called in this district the 
“Jews ear” ( Pezziza venosa). When lads, we have seen the old 
men of Caldewgate—who knew their savoury properties well— 
looking for them, and many a dish have we gathered by the side 
of Eden, Petteril, and Caldew. We have often thought that he was 
a plucky man who first partook of this fungus, as it has not an 
inviting appearance. Some specimens resemble the human ear, 
others are crisped. They vary much, and are of a cinereous white 
appearance underneath, and the concavity of the pileus of a dark 
maroon colour. They have a pungent smell, like nitric acid, 
before being cooked. Growing in close proximity, we often find 
the dainty Morrel, that curious honey-combed mushroom, which 
fetches such a good price in the London market. At an otter 
hunt up the River Lyne we found them plentiful, and gathered a 
goodly number. To our surprise, their good qualities were well 
known by some of the residents of Lyneside, who informed us 
_ they had been gathered regularly for many years back. In 1866, 
Mr. W. G. Smith, a noted fungologist, exhibited at a meeting of 
the Royal Horticultural Society, a gigantic morrel which had not 
previously been observed in Britain. In the year 1878, we had 
the good fortune to meet with the same species at the top end of 
Sykefoot island. 
These last few years back we have seen eee gathering a 
_ fungus which they called the morrel, but it is not, its proper name 
being the Maned Agaric ( Copzinus comatus). It grows plentifully 
in the Bitts, Boustead’s grassing, and several other places near the 
3 city, and is edible. Another, which grows in most of our damp 
_ woods, known as the Hedgehog, or Spring Mushroom (Aydnam 
_ repandum ), is also very good when grilled, which we don’t forget 
to gather when we come across it. How grieved have we been to 
see the Giant Puff-ball (Lycoperdon giganieum) kicked to pieces by 
eee OESEe , 
