2^8 



THE NATURE BOOK 



cation, delirium and death, although 

 considered less deadly than others of 

 its order. The taste is bitter, and there 

 is com]-)aratively little scent. It is to 

 be found in most districts from July 

 to November. 



Commonly known as the " Prickly 

 Cap/' the Pholiata Sqiiarrosa (ord. Agari- 



BOLETUS VAKIEGATUS. 

 To be found chiefly in Pine woods. Dark yellow in colour. 



cinece) is shown on page 237 in its 

 usual habitat, a tree trunk (frequently 

 an apple tree). It grows in tufts, and 

 appears from August to October, being 

 common to most districts. The pileiis 

 varies from 2 to 4 in. across, and is 

 tawny yellow in colour ; it is very 

 scaly, at first bell-shaped, rounded, then 

 convex when expanded. The top has a 

 suggestion of the central boss, which is 

 em])hasised more or less in different 

 species as a variable character. The 

 scales are a bright tan brown and add to 

 the distinctive colouring. The stem 

 measures from 3 to 6 in., is yellow at 

 first, then becomes brown ; it is thick, 

 smooth above, and rough below. The 

 ring, seen plainly upon the two top- 

 most s])ecimens, is set high, and is also 

 a bright V^rown colour. The interior of 

 the stem is fairly solid and of pithy con- 

 struction. The gills change in colour, 

 being yellowish in the early stage, olive- 

 col(jured later, and eventually brown ; 

 they are unequal, and bow-shaped in form ; 



the spores are brown. Regarded as a 

 wholesome species, the " Prickly Cap " 

 cannot claim to be of first-rate quality, 

 the taste being rather that of mouldy 

 meal. 



The "Scarlet Hood," or Hygrophonis 

 Cocci neiis (ord. Agaricinc(c), is another 

 common species, frequent on grassy places 



in scattered 

 groups from 

 August to No- 

 vember (see page 

 237). The pileus 

 measures from 

 I to 2 in. across, 

 and is scarlet 

 above, shading 

 to orange and 

 yellow below. It 

 should be re- 

 membered that 

 the colouring of 

 the Fungi is 

 \- a r i a b 1 e, and 

 t h e gills may 

 r\-en assume a 

 ])inkish tone. 

 The cap is coni- 

 cal, bell-shaped, 

 slightly bossed, 

 and when ex- 

 panded sometimes splits from the centre. 

 The inverted S]:)ecimen on the left of the 

 grou]:) shows the formation of the gills 

 excellently. The principal difference from 

 all other allied species lies in the hymeneal 

 stratum of the gills becoming a waxy mass 

 removable from the trama, a substance 

 existing between the two plates of the gills. 

 It is specially noticeable in this species,. 

 the gills seeming full of watery juice. 

 They are yellow or red, broad and swollen 

 in the middle. The spores are white; 

 the stem, from i to 2 in. high, is yellow 

 streaked with scarlet : thick, smooth, 

 tough, yet easily split, and hollow in the 

 centre. 



The species is edible, has no scent, 

 and is of good flavour. 



Boletus Varicgatiis (ord. Polyporca') is 

 a sj)ccics found chiefly in cmr ]:)ine woods 

 through September and October. The 

 pileus is 3 to 5 in. broad, dark yellow 

 in (olour. and in form convex, then 

 flattening ; it is slightly moist, and 

 sj)rinkled with small hairy scales. The 



