68 CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. [Mavch, 



centre, with shorter ones in the interstices, composed of a double 

 closely connected membrane, more or less distinct from the pi- 

 leus. Veil various or none," 



The genus is divided into several sections, distinguished by 

 the colour of the spores and the texture of the veil, and is also 

 divided into a number of subgenera, many of which are now 

 ranked as genera. I select the following species as illustra- 

 tions : — 



Agaricus (Amanita) muscarius, L. Fly Agaric. Margin 

 of the pilens striate ; gills white ; stem subsolid, bulbous ; volva 

 scaly. 



Woods, especially of Fir and Birch ; Aug.-Nov. 



Pileus 3-7 inches broad, convex, rich orange-scarlet, beset 

 with conical angular whitish warts. Gills white, broad, free or 

 slightly adnexed. Spores white. Stem 4-9 inches high, |-1 

 inch thick, bulbous at the base, the bulb covered with close co- 

 nical scales. Ring deflexed. 



A well-marked and beautiful species, common in Fir-woods, 

 which it enlivens with its brilliant red pileus. It possesses, how- 

 ever, highly narcotic and dangerous qualities. 



Agaricus (Armillaria) melleus, Vahl. Black-scaled Aga- 

 ric. Tufted ; pileus dirty-yellow, rough with black hairy scales ; 

 gills distant, adnato-decurrent ; stem fibrillose ; ring tumid, pa- 

 tent. 



On stumps of trees, etc., Sept.-Oct. 



Densely tufted. Pileus 2-7 inches broad, at first convex, then 

 expanded, dirty-yellow, brownish-yellow or reddish, rough with 

 reflexed scales, especially towards the centre ; scales at first yel- 

 low, but becoming dark -brown. Gills distant, adnato-decurrent, 

 from whitish becoming flesh-coloured or reddish. Spores white. 

 Stem 2-8 inches high, yellowish or reddish, when old often va- 

 riously tinted with blue, grey, etc., firm and elastic, solid. Ring 

 large, thick, spreading, yellow, whitish within. 



A very common Agaric in some seasons, on stumps of trees, 

 which it sometimes so completely covers as to hide. The spores 

 are produced in abundance, and the lower pilei of a tuft are 

 often whitened by them, as if dusted with flour. 



Agaricus (Russula) emeticus, Schseff. Common simple-gilled 

 Agaric. Large, compact, margin of the pileus at length fur- 

 rowed; gills broad, mostly equal, white. 



