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On August 17 an oak stump growing in a thick woods near BlufiEton 

 was found literally covered with Polyporiis sulfureiis. No other mass of 

 color could have clothed the stump to render it more conspicuous in the 

 dark woods. The fungus was young and tender, and a number of persons 

 ate of it sliced and stewed. The flavor possibly suggested veal. I have 

 seen this species growing more in the open on logs where it was almost 

 completely pulverized by insect larvae. 



Of the Boletaceae three genera Avere observed in Wells County— 

 FistuUna, Boletus and Boletimts. None of these were tested for their edible 

 qualities. FistuUna hepatica was found only once, on August 25. Boletimts 

 porosus grew in shaded woods among old leaves. The short stipe and mot- 

 tle yellow-ochre and burnt umber pileus of this species render even large 

 specimens six or seven inches in diameter inconspicuous. One species of 

 Boletus was common in both Whitlej'^ and Wells counties, but was not 

 specifically identified. Height, two Inches; diameter of pileus, one and 

 one-half inches; pileus above, chocolate brown, reddish or reddish yellow; 

 flesh, white or very pale yellow, when broken becoming bluish, then very 

 dark yellow; tubes yellow; stipe solid, reddish yellow, not annulated. 



Pleurotus ostreatus to the mycophagist is one of the most valuable 

 fungi in northern Indiana. About Bluffton it was found especially on the 

 northern exposures of elm logs which still held their bark, though it has 

 a wide range of habitat. To some its flavor is as good as any mushroom, 

 and the quantities that can often be gathered after a rain from one log 

 recommend it. It often becomes soggy during a rainy spell, but if it is not 

 too much infested with larvae this does not interfere with its edibility. 

 Fried in butter this species is as good as cooked any other way. It is at- 

 tacked by more enemies than anj^ other woods species of fungus I have 

 noticed. At least two or three species of mollusca, two diptera, possibly 

 a dozen coleoptera and two hymenopetera infest it. A friend reports grass- 

 hoppers feeding on it. Centipedes are often found among the gills, being 

 there doubtless in search of insect prey. 



Amanita phalloides was found once in a cleared spot in a thin woods 

 near Shriner Lake, Whitley County. This was the only one of the few 

 deadly mushrooms seen during the season. A species which is perhaps 

 dangerous is Lepiota morgani. It reaches the maximum of size for an 

 Agaricaceae. One specimen collected at Bluffton was ten inches high, and 

 the pileus was eleven inches in diameter. Another specimen broken off at 

 tlie ground weighed eleven ounces. I saw the species growing at only two 



