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those who knew not their worth! We never pass one growing but 
we carry it home and enjoy a sumptuous repast. There is one 
thing we ought to impress upon you, and that is never to eat one 
that is the least discoloured ; it ought to be pure white inside. If 
you cut it in slices half an inch thick, peel the outer skin off, dip 
each slice in an egg which has been beaten up, fry with a little 
butter; pepper, and salt, and a few bread crumbs, you will say no 
French omelette is half so good in richness and delicacy of flavour. 
Speaking of this puff-ball reminds me of one occasion when, in 
the neighbourhood of Cumwhinton, we found a remarkably fine 
specimen, about the size of a football. We inclosed it in a 
handkerchief, but it. was too small to cover it. We went into a 
roadside inn to take our lunch, and laid the puff-ball on the table. 
The landlady naturally inquired what we were going to “mek o’ t’ 
fuzz-bo,” as she termed it, and we told her we were going to have it 
cooked. She held up her hands in astonishment, and said, in a 
voice of dismay: “ Carel fwoks ’ll eat owt !” 
It is strange that such a prejudice exists against fungi. Only 
last autumn the woods and pastures round Carlisle fairly teemed 
with excellent food, and it was pitiable to see it wasted. 
Speaking for myself, I had many an excellent dish, and still could 
not prevail on others to partake of the same. Many a time have 
we been told that we would be found poisoned after having par- 
taken of these delicacies. Of course, we would not advise any 
person to eat them unless they had some knowledge of mycology, 
as some species which are good food resemble very much others that 
are poisonous, and only mycologists who have studied these fungi 
can point out the slight structural difference that exists between 
them. In my early study of fungi I suffered through having more 
enthusiasm than caution, having partaken of a poisonous kind, and 
was very ill for a short time after. There is no royal road to the 
study, and it can only be obtained by close application and a 
knowledge of the individual species. 
When fishing for trout with the bustard at midnight on the Eden 
with a cockney friend, some Tawny Owls were making the woods 
resound with their discordant hoot, ever and anon crossing the 
ee eS eee 
a we a 
