154 



A drawing of each species from nature, carefully coloured, will be added, and 

 tlius with commou care it will scarcely be possible that any mistake can be made 

 in recognising them. Opinions of those who have eaten them will be given, as 

 to their edible merits ; and receipts for cooking tlicm added, keeping as far as 

 may be economy and simplicity in view. 



The thi-ee Funguses selected for Illustration in the present paper are 

 the Ayaricus procerus, Lactarius cleliciosus, and 3Tarasmivs oreades. They are 

 three of the most valuable Agarics, all very common, all most useful and 

 savoury, and yet all thus far almost completely wasted and lost. In future years 

 it is proi)osed to continue these Illustrations if the members of the club should 

 desire it. 



EXPLANATION OF THE TERLIS USED IN THIS PAPER. 



The tribe of Funguses is divided into families according to the situation 

 of the hymenium, or fruit bearing part of the plant ; and the Mushrooms, or 

 Agarics (Ar/aricini) so well known by the vulgar as "Toadstools" or "Frog- 

 stools," form a large order, divided into different series by the colour of their 

 spores. 



The MyceUiim is the underground jilant from which tlie fungus springs. 

 It consists of numerous delicate, colourless fibres which permeate the soil and 

 interlace in all directions. 



The Spores are the reproductive bodies found on the hynieniam, and com- 

 pose the dust which falls from the gills of an agaric. 



The Pilevs or cap. is the whole top of the fungus supported on the 

 stem, and is divided into the cuticle on its surface, the flush within, and the 

 giUs beneath. 



The Veil is tlie membrane tliat covers the whole fungus in its first stage of 

 gi-owth ; it forms the cuticle on the pileus, covers the gills in their young 

 state, and often remains as a ring on the stem. 



The Gills, or lamellce, are folds which form the hymenium in an agaric and 

 bear the spores. 



