266 



that the largest specimens are found. When they 6rst make their appearance in 

 a new spot I have observed that they are comparatively small. 

 Affa7-iciis ( Pleurotus) saliffnus, Pers. 



This must be a species capable of most extraordinary development, although 



1 have no personal experience of any but small specimens. Fries gives the size of 

 the flabelliform pileus as 6 inches, but one of Dr. Bull's characteristic sketches 

 gives a section of 8 inches, with an intimation that the original specimen was six 

 times that size. If it were intended that this should be interpreted as six times 

 the diameter, it would give no less than 48 inches as the expanse of these saddle 

 flaps. It may truly be said that "there were gaints in those days." Probably 

 the smallest pinch of salt is required to tone down this monster. 



Af/aricus (Pleurotus) tdmarius, Fr. 



I cannot pretend to any knowledge of extraordinary specimens of this splendid 

 species, never having handled one with an expanse of more than 10 or 12 inches, 

 but often of 7 or 8, with a thickness of 2 inches of solid white flesh with somewhat 

 of the pleasant flavour of a fresh filbert, and when fried, possessing a mild but 

 decidedly appetising flavour, and not in the least tough. In all respects prefer- 

 able to Aga.ricus ostreatus, which has, I fancy, been lauded above its merits. 

 Agaricus (Pleurotus) revolutus, Kickx. 



This is another large species. The only specimen I yet know of as British, 

 had a pileus 12 inches in length. It was found by Mr. llalfs, at Penzance. 

 Agaricus (Volvaria) bombycinus, Schoeff. 



Fries allows for this species a height of stem of from 3 to 6 inches, and a 

 diameter of pileus of from 3 to 8 inches. In this country I fancy they seldom 

 reach such a size. The largest I have any record of, is a specimen sent me by 

 the Rev. Canon Uu Port, which had a pileus, unexpanded 7 inches high, and 

 probably this would when fully opened have been nearly 12 inches. The stem 

 was 7 inches high, with a diameter of 2^ inches at the base. This was found grow- 

 ing on Elm, in Norfolk, in July 1881. A few are seen almost annually in some 

 part of Kew Gardens, but these seldom exceed a diameter of about 4 inches. 



[Subsequent to the reading of this paper, a specimen was found in Kew 

 Gardens (in 1886) with the pileus 14 inches in diameter ; stem 8 inches long, and 



2 inches thick ; gills IJ inches broad ; and total weight 2f pounds.] 

 Agaricus ( Flammula) carbonarius, Fr. 



Under ordinary circumstances this is a small, unpretending species, as Fries 

 says, with a pileus of an inch or a little more in diameter, and a stem of from 

 1 to It inches long. It was growing, with not more than two or three months 

 interruption, during the driest part of the summer, or under the snow, for three 

 years in Kew Gardens. At its maximum of luxuriance I found and measured 

 specimens .5i inches long in the .stem, with an expanded pileus of 4f inches; and I 

 imagine that this is the largest size to which this species has ever been known to 

 attain. Ultimately, the charred ground became over-run with docks and nettles, 

 when the struggle for existence terminated fatally for the fungi, and they have 

 not been seen for eighteen months. 



