28 A PLAIN AND EASY ACCOUNT 



dance of justice to this numerous alliance of plants. 

 It is true also that the odour and appearance of 

 some species are repulsive enough to have warranted 

 their association with that despised reptile which has 

 been said to carry a jewel in its head, and with a con- 

 temptuous epithet the toadstool has been trodden under 

 foot without even a suspicion of its use except as a 

 throne for a toad. 



Instead of the one or two species which appear in 

 our markets in the autumn, there are upwards of fifty 

 which might be easily discriminated from the noxious 

 kinds, and the majority of which are fully equal, and 

 some perhaps superior, to any of the kinds popularly 

 considered esculent. 



Foremost in the genus Agaricus stands a group 

 naturally associated together under the sub-generic 

 name of Lepiota, derived from the scaly appearance 

 of the surface of the pileus (lepis, Lat. a scale). The 

 hymenophorum, or part which bears the gills, is distinct 

 from the stem, and the veil breaks up into scales on 

 the surface of the pileus or cap. The gills differ from 

 those in the succeeding sub-genus in being nearly or 

 entirely free. 



Occasionally, a very suspicious-looking fungus, Aga- 

 ricus procerus, a member of this sub-genus, is found 

 exhibited for sale in Covent Garden market, but 

 which is, nevertheless, very good eating. It is often 

 several inches in diameter, and is found growing in 

 pastures. The stem is long, hollow, and bulbous at 

 the base, clad with closely-pressed scales. The pileus 



