<JF BRITISH FUNGI. 35 



be found in our woods, growing amongst dead leaves, 

 although without any charms of colouring to check the 

 rambler in his path, and cause him to stay and admire. 

 All its charms are those which appeal to the internal 

 sensibilities of the gastric regions. This, sometimes 

 called the Clouded Agaric (A. nebularis), has generally a 

 mouse- grey or dun-coloured pileus, scarcely four inches 

 in diameter, supported upon a robust stem of about three 

 inches in height. The edge of the pileus is rolled in, 

 and the fungus has altogether a smoky appearance, as 

 though it had been exiled from town to vegetate peni- 

 tentially in the wood. The gills are dirty white, nume- 

 rous, and run a little way down the stem. The flesh is 

 thick and odour strong. 



It must, moreover, not be forgotten that the spores 

 in this species are of a snowy whiteness, so abundant as 

 to sprinkle and whiten the surrounding grass, which 

 will enable the novice to avoid confounding it with less 

 useful or more noxious species with pinkish or roseate 

 spores. 



All who have tried this fungus and it is not at all 

 difficult to distinguish agree that it is of a most deli- 

 cate flavour, and easy of digestion. 



The Fragrant Agaric (A. odorus) is a very beautiful 

 little species, but far from common. In dry weather 

 especially it exhales an odour reminding one of new- 

 mown hay or melilot. The pileus is from two to three 

 inches in diameter, and generally of a more or less 

 greenish tint. The gills are numerous, pale, or tinged 

 with flesh-colour. The stem is solid and firm. It has 

 D 2 



