40 A PLAIN AND EAST ACCOUNT 



tiful species, which not only makes itself a home 

 on those venerable trees, elevated many feet above the 

 ground, but also from them derives its specific name 

 (A. ulmarius). We have seen it occasionally around 

 Hampstead and Highgate, but it is not considered a 

 very common species. The specimen from which our 

 drawing was made came from the former locality ; it 

 was flourishing alone, but it is more usual to meet 

 with them in tufts. The stem is thick and inserted a 

 little out of the centre ; the pileus is smooth, slightly 

 and minutely spotted ; and the gills are broad, close, 

 and of a dirty white. Although perfectly wholesome, 

 there is not much flavour in it, and whatever it may 

 be when young, it certainly exhibits a tendency to 

 toughness when fully matured, which does not recom- 

 mend it to the gastronomist. It has been customary 

 to regard this and some of its allies as alimentary, 

 but there is no doubt that they could all be very 

 well spared from the list (PL 7). 



Late in the autumn the Oyster (A. ostreatus) may 

 be found growing on trees. But, whilst in the animal 

 world the oyster that groweth upon trees is considered 

 as degenerate and unfit for becoming the food of man, 

 in the vegetable world the tree-loving oyster is held 

 by many to be excellent food. The fungus to which 

 we have thus alluded has generally so peculiar an 

 appearance, common only to a very limited number of 

 British species, that it can scarcely be mistaken. The 

 only one which would be liable to be confounded with 

 it makes its appearance in spring, and is not esculent, 



