44 A PLAIN AND EASY ACCOUNT 



The sub-genus Flammula has the gills either firmly 

 attached to or running down the stem. 



In Naucoria the stem is of a cartilaginous character 

 on the outside and the pileus or cap is bent or turned 

 inwards. A very common little species may be noticed 

 during the summer in almost every pasture, having a 

 fleshy hemispherical pileus ; whence its specific name 

 of semi-orbicularis is derived. 



In the sub-genus Galera, the pileus is somewhat 

 bell-shaped, and the margin is straight. 



The next sub-genus, Crepidotus, has an eccentric 

 pileus, which distinguishes it from all the others. This 

 completes the series with rust-coloured or tawny spores. 

 It will have been remarked that in all this series there 

 does not occur a single species which can be recom- 

 mended as an article of food. Although interesting to 

 the mycologist, our space will not permit us to give 

 more than this brief summary of the principal features 

 of the groups into which the series is subdivided. 



Succeeding these are the PRATELL^E, a series of 

 Agarics in which the spores are brownish purple or 

 brown, and the first and foremost sub-genus is Psaliota 

 (from psalion, Gr., a ring), having the veil affixed to 

 the stem, and forming a ring. In this group we en- 

 counter the Mushroom of the English, the Pratiola of 

 the Italians, or the A. campestris of botanists (PL 10). 

 " May he die of a pratiola ! " is the worst wish that an 

 Italian can express for an enemy. Hence we may learn 

 the small esteem in which our general favourite is held by 

 the most extensive of fungi- eaters in Europe. Were this 



