4 
48 THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 
specimens it does not adhere to the base of the stem but is left in the 
ground. In appearance this species is rather slender and regular, in 
mode of growth it is solitary or very much scattered. It grows in 
woods either dense or thin and sometimes in open places, and it seems 
to be able to accommodate itself toa great yariety of circumstances. 
As it often happens, the variability of this species has given rise to 
numerous synonyms, which are mostly indicative of its various 
colors. Among these may be mentioned A. plumbeus, Sheff., A. hyali- 
nus, Scheff., A. badius, Scheft., A. fulvus, Scheff., A. trilobus, Bolt., 
A. pulvinatus, Bolt., Amanita livida, Pers., and Am. spadicea, Pers. 
Some authors class this among the edible species, others, among the 
suspected or doubtful ones. Cordier pronounces it a delicate food. 
Agaricus nivalis, Grev. Snowy Agaric. Alpine Agaric. Pileus 
at first ovate, then convex or plane, smooth, striate on the thin margin, 
white, sometimes tinged with yellow or ochraceous on the disk, flesh 
white ; lamellae subdistant, white, free ; stem equal, rather tall, nearly 
smooth, bulbous, stuffed, white, the volva very fragile, soon breaking up 
into fragments or sometimes persisting in the form of a collar-like ring 
at the upper part of the bulb; spores globose, .0003 in. to .0004 in. 
in diameter. : 
Plant 4 in. to 6 in. high, pileus 2 in. to 3 in. broad, stem 2 to 4 
lines thick. July to October. pohies’ 
This fungus has generally been considered a mere variety of the 
preceding, from which, according to the “English Flora,” it differs 
merely in the “greater distance of the lamelle and the greater 
compactness of the stem.” But in the American plant, which seems 
to me to be the same specifically, I find two other notable points 
of distinction, namely, the more frail fragmentary volva and the 
distinctly bulbous base of the stem. This last character is also 
noticed in Greville’s description, and it has especially influenced 
me to keep the species distinct. In its original locality its 
habitat is said to be ‘“‘highland pastures and summits of moun- 
tains.” With us it occurs in open, grassy places and in thin 
woods, but it is not common. I have seen it in the counties of Essex, 
Rensselaer and Otsego. It approaches in some respects, A. Prostianus, 
but its larger size, smooth pileus, lighter color and the absence of an 
annulus will easily distinguish it from that species. A. fungites, 
Batsch, is given as a synonym of this species. 
Agaricus strangulatus, “r. Strangulated Agaric. Pileus at first 
ovate or subelliptical, then campanulate, convex or plane, warty, 
slightly viscid when moist, deeply and distinctly striate on the margin, 
grayish-brown; lamell free, close, white ; stem equal or tapering up- 
wards, stuffed or hallow, nearly smooth, white or whitish, the vlova 
soon breaking up into scales or subannular fragments ; spores globose, 
0004 in. to .0005 in. in diameter. 
Plant 4 in. to 6in. high, pileus 2 in. to4 in. broad, stem 3 lines 
to 6 lines thick. July. 
This plant was found in 1869 growing in the grassy borders of a grove 
near Greenport, Long Island. I have not since found it, and conclude 
that it is a very rare species with us, In color and general appearance it 
resembles A. vaginatus,from which it may be distinguished by the warty 
pileus and the slight volva which does not sheath the base of the stem, 
but soon breaks up into small fragments, or scales, which sometimes 
