THE MOSSES, FUNGI, AND LICHENS. 



317 



Fig. 256. 



Fig. 256) one of the most easily recognised of all 



the fungi. We have gathered this species by scores 



in the fir-woods of Norfolk, when April has been a 



warmer month than usual. After being gathered, 



each fungus should be hung by a bit of string where 



there is a current of air, so as to be properly dried. 



When thus dried, all you have to do is to powder a 



little in soup, or grate the dry 



fungus over your chop or steak 



whilst cooking, and you will be 



thankful ever afterwards for the 



knowledge ! Another fungus, 



hastily classed by us among the 



" toadstools," but whose merits 



are thoroughly appreciated in 



France, is the Champignon 



(Marasmius oreades, Fig. 257). 



This is one of the most dainty 



of the Agarics, as well as among 



the safest to use for cookery 



purposes. You cannot help 



noticing it in your walks, it is so abundant. Were 



it for nothing else, its habit of forming those dark 



green rings commonly known as " fairy rings " 



would render it a conspicuous species. These rings 



are caused by the spores being thrown outward, and, 



as the inner ground is tolerably exhausted of its 



nitrogenous substances, the spores thus scattered 



have a tendency to grow only on the outer or fertile 



ground. This fungus is of too dry a nature to 



Morel. 



