98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



The order Agaricini is divided into several genera, two of 

 which claim our attention, Agaricus and Hygrophorus. 



In the genus Agaricus, the gills are membranaceous, persistent 

 (that is, they do not melt), and the trama or plate over which the 

 hymenium is spread is continuous with the substance of the 

 pileus, and the edge of each gill is acute. 



The genus Agaricus contains five distinct series, each series 

 being determined by the colour of its spores, and it is a curious 

 coincidence that each of the series is represented in the plants 

 which I have the pleasure of bringing under your notice this 

 evening. The first series is termed Leucospori and contains 

 those species which have white spores. Leucospori embrace 

 many sub-genera amongst which are Armillana and Tricholoma. 



The first specimen has been called Ag. (Armiliaria) insignis, 

 C. and M. ; I found it on the bank of the Yarra, near its con- 

 fluence with Gardiner's Creek, in April. The stem is very short 

 and thick, whilst the cap or pileus is from three to five inches in 

 diameter. 



The next is also a white-spored species Ag. (Tricholoma) 

 coarctatuSi C and M. It is fairly common on the sandy soil 

 under the scrub near Sandringham in the month of August. 



The second series of Agaricus is called Hyperodii. Plants of 

 this series have salmon-coloured spores, and I found one new 

 species which Professor Cook has called Ag. (Entoloma) Wehli- 

 anus ; it was discovered on the bank of the Yarra, near Hawthorn, 

 in April. 



The third series, Dermini, has ferruginous or rusty-coloured 

 spores, and is represented in this collection by the new species, 

 Ag. (Hebeloma) gigaspora, C. and M. It was discovered at 

 Eltham, on the bank of the Yarra, in April. 



The fourth series, Pratelke, has brownish purple or brown 

 spores. The new species of this series has been called Ag. 

 (Psal/iota) elatior, C. and M. ; found on the Yarra bank, near 

 Eltham, in April. It is a small fungus, about i}£ inches in 

 diameter, borne on a long, thin stalk about 5 inches high. I 

 might remark that our common edible mushroom, Ag. campestrts, 

 is a Pratella. 



The fifth and last series, Coprinarii, is easily distinguished 

 by the black spores which fall and discolour the hand of the 

 gatherer. The new species pertaining to this series is called Ag. 

 (Pano2lus)\ovatus ; it grows on manure, and was found during the 

 month of April near Gardiner's Creek. 



I mentioned before that I found a representative of a second 

 genus of Agaricini — Hygrophorus. This genus is distinguished 

 from Agaricus by the waxy nature of the hymenium. The new 

 species belonging to this genus is called Hygrophorus Candida, C. 

 and M. ; it was found at Sandringham in April. 



