256 FOOTNOTES FROM 



caps. The flavour, however, is far inferior to that of 

 the common mushrooms ; its smell is strong and un- 

 pleasant, and it is little fit for making ketchup, having 

 but a small quantity of juice, and that not of a good 

 colour. It grows to an enormous size, frequently attain- 

 ing forty inches in circumference, and weighing many 

 pounds. It is easily known by its white pileus and 

 gills, slightly stained with yellow when bruised. In 

 France it is known from its white colour as the Boule- 

 de-neige. There is another fungus frequently sold in 

 Covent Garden market under the name of Blewitts, 

 whose taste is very agreeable. This is the Agaricus 

 personatus, occurring abundantly in old pastures during 

 the winter months, and often growing gregariously in 

 large rings. It is easily known by its pale bistre or 

 purple-lilac colour, and its rather overpowering odour. 

 Every one is familiar with the common champignon or 

 Scotch bonnets, which form those sour ringlets in the 

 grassy meadows popularly called fairy rings, strangely 

 attributed by some authors to the effects of electricity, 

 and by others, more poetically and quite as truly, ascribed 

 to the fairies as the traces of their moonlight revels. 

 This curious fungus, the Agaricus oreades of botanists, 

 though tough and strongly tasted, is sometimes used 

 as an article of food in this country, but too frequently 

 very different and poisonous fungi are gathered under 

 the name. It is almost always gregarious, growing in 

 a centrifugal manner, increasing its circle year by year, 

 while the individuals in the centre decay, and impart 

 by their decay to the grass at the edge a more vivid green 

 than that of the rest of the meadow. Some of the 



