BLACK-SPORED AGARICS. 



33 



smaller species the gills do not wholly deliquesce, but the cap splits 

 on top along the line of the longer gills, this split passing down 

 through the gill, dividing it into two thin laminae, which, however, 

 remain united at the lower edge. This gives a fluted appearance to 

 the margin of the pileus, which is very thin and membranaceous. 



The plants vary in size, from tiny ones to those which are several 

 inches high and more than an inch broad. Their habitat (that is, 

 the place where they grow) is peculiar. A number of the species 



Figure 31. Coprinus comatus, " shaggy-mane," in lawn. 



grow on dung or recently manured ground. From this peculiarity 

 the genus received the name Coprinus from the Greek word xopvc?, 

 meaning dung. Some of the species, however, grow on decaying 

 logs, on the ground, on leaves, etc. 



Coprinus comatus Fr. Edible. One of the fmest species in this 

 genus is the shaggy-mane, or horse-tail mushroom, as it is popularly 

 called. It occurs in lawns and other grassy places, especially in 

 richly manured ground. The plants sometimes occur singly, or a 

 few together, but often quite large numbers of them appear in a 

 small area. They occur most abundantly during quite wet weather. 



