USES. 91 



old stumps arid on the naked soil. Both species are also found 

 and eaten in the United States. 



In. Cortinarlus, the veil is composed of arachnoid threads, and 

 the spores are rusty. The number of edible species are few. 

 Foremost is the really handsome Cortinarius violaeus, Fr.,* often 

 nearly four inches in diameter, and of a beautiful violet colour ; 

 and the smaller Cortinarius castanc'us, Fr.,f scarcely exceeding an 

 inch in diameter, both being found in woods, and common alike 

 to Britain and the United States. C'ortinariiis cinnamomcus, Fr., 

 is also a lover of woods, and in northern latitudes is found in- 

 habiting them everywhere. It has a cinnamon-coloured pileus, 

 with yellowish flesh, and its odour and flavour is said to partake 

 of the same spice. In Germany it is held in high esteem. Cor- 

 tinarius emodcnsis, B., is eaten in Northern India. 



The small genus Lepista of Smith (which, however, is not 

 adopted by Fries in his new edition of the " Epicrisis ") includes 

 one esculent species in Lepista pcrsonata, the Afjaricus personatus 

 of Fries.+ It is by no means uncommon in Northern Europe 

 or America, frequently growing* in large rings ; the pileus is 

 pallid, and the stem stained with lilac. Formerly it was said 

 to be sold in Co vent Garden Market under the name of "blewits," 

 but we have failed to see or hear of it daring many years in 

 London. 



Small fungi of ivory- white ness are very common amongst 

 grass on lawns in autumn. These are chiefly Hygropliorus 

 vii'flineus, Fr., and although not much exceeding an inch in 

 diameter, with a short stem, and wide decurrent gills, they are 

 so plentiful in season that quantity soon compensates for the 

 small size. Except that it is occasionally eaten in France, it 

 does not enjoy much reputation abroad. A larger species, vary- 

 ing from bufi' to orange, Ifyr/ropliorus pratensis, Fr.,|| is scarcely 

 less common in open pastures. This is very gregarious in habit, 



* Hnsscy, "Mycol. Illust." pi. 12. 



f Bulliard, " Champ." t. 268. 



J Cooke, "Easy Guide," pi. 4, fig. 1; Husscy, "Illust." vol. ii. pi. 40.. 



Greville, " Scot. Crypt. Flora," t. 166. 



II Ibid., t. 91. 



