94 FUNGI. 



where it is found, England excepted, where it is only to be 

 met with at the "Freemason's Tavern " on state occasions, and 

 at the tables of pertinacious mycophagists.* Trattinnick says : 

 " Not only this same fungus never did any one harm, but might 

 even restore the dead."t 



The fairy-ring champignon Blarasmius oreades, Fr., though 

 small, is plentiful, and one of the most delicious of edible fungi. 

 It grows in exposed pastures, forming rings, or parts of rings. 

 This champignon possesses the advantage of drying readily, 

 and preserving its aroma for a long time. We have often 

 regretted that no persistent attempts and experiments have 

 been made with the view of cultivating this excellent and useful 

 species. Marasmius scorodonius, Fr.,J a small, strong-scented, 

 and in all respects inferior species, found on heaths and diy 

 pastures, extending even to the United States, is consumed in 

 Germany, Austria, and other continental countries, where, per- 

 haps its garlic odour has been one of its recommendations as 

 an ingredient in sauces. In this enumeration we have not ex- 

 hausted all the gill-bearing species which might be eaten, having 

 included only those which have some reputation as esculents, 

 and of these more particularly those found in Great Britain and 

 the United States. 



Amongst the Polyporei, in which the gill plates are represented 

 by pores or tubes, fewer esculent species are to be met with than 

 in the Agaricini, and the majority of these belong to the genus 

 Boletus. Whilst in Vienna and Hanover, we were rather 

 surprised to find Boletus edulis, Fr., cut into thin slices and 

 dried, exposed for sale in almost every shop where meal, peas, 

 and other farinaceous edibles were sold. This species is com- 

 mon enough in England, but as a rule it does not seem to please 

 the English palate, whereas on the continent no fungus is more 

 commonly eaten. This is believed to be the suillus eaten by 

 the ancient Romans, who obtained it from Bithynia. The 



* Badham, Dr , "Esculent Funguses of Britain," 2nd ed. p. 110; Hussey, 

 "Illust. Brit. Mycol." 1st ser. pi. 4 ; Barla, " Champ." pi. 28, f. 7-15. 



f Trattinnick, L., "Essbaren Schwamrae," p. 98. 



J Lenz, " Die Niitzlichen und Schadlichen Schwamme," p. 49. 



Badham, " Esculent Funguses of Great Britain," 2 ed. p. 91. 



