OF BRITISH FUNGI. 95 



are common. In these the peridium or covering is 

 double, the outer one, bursting and dividing into sepa- 

 rate lobes, falls back in a stellate manner at the base of 

 the ball formed by the inner peridium, which latter 

 ultimately opens and discharges its spores from the 

 summit. Although useless, these are very curious and 

 interesting fungi, and are not possessed of the strong 

 and unpleasant odour of the members of the last group. 



The genera Bomsta and Lycoperdon, which follow, 

 may be distinguished from each other by the bark of the 

 former at length shelling off, and of the latter remaining 

 attached in the form of scales or warts. There are but 

 two species of Bomsta indigenous to Britain, distin- 

 guished by the colour of the peridium, which in either 

 instance supplies the specific name. B. nigrescens is 

 blackish, and B.plumbea of a lead-colour. Although 

 we have never heard of the former being eaten, it is 

 stated that the latter furnishes a very palateable dish. 

 Bomsta plumbea and Lycoperdon pyriforme have, how- 

 ever, been so confounded together, sometimes in the 

 name and sometimes in the individuals themselves, as 

 evidenced by the fact that figures of the latter have 

 been given with the name of the former, that one seems 

 disposed to doubt whether both have not been eaten the 

 one for the other, and whether both may not be esculent, 

 though perhaps not excellent. Both species of Bomsta 

 are very common in pastures, and resemble little round 

 balls, which, when ripe, discharge their dust-like spores 

 frqrn openings in the top of the papery peridium. 



There is scarcely a dweller or stroller into the country 



