JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. I07 



Stuffed, distinct from the pileus, to which it is attached with a sort of 

 socket. Cuticle smooth, like kid, and the color of a biscuit. This 

 looks almost the same as the common meadow mushroom, except 

 that the gills are a creamy or pinkish white, and the spores are 

 white, never purple or brown. This species is very common on our 

 lawn and in the fields around Hamilton. 



Stevenson describes a species similar to this in England, Ag. 

 Lepiota Naucinus, It seems to be nearly the same, except that the 

 cuticle brakes into granules, and the ring is described as tender. 

 Taylor states that some of the American species have a slight granu- 

 lation. The difference is probably one of those slight differences 

 that characterize members of the same species on different sides of 

 the ocean. 



I have always avoided the Naucinoides on account of its re- 

 semblance to the Amanita Verna^ and I have counselled others to 

 avoid it for that reason. The most notable difference is that the 

 Verna has a volva and the JVaucifioides has not, but as the volva is 

 generally left in the ground when the Verna is gathered, this is not 

 to be depended upon as a distinguishing mark if mushrooms are 

 picked by any one but an expert. The Verna grows in the woods 

 and the Naucinoides in the open, but as they may meet on common 

 ground at the edge of a wood, this also is not to be depended on. 



The Verna being the most deadly of all the fungi, I have 

 rejected all that resemble it, unless I could see them growing and 

 gather them myself, though I am aware that many people eat the 

 Naucinoides, taking it for the common meadow mushroom. They 

 know nothing about the deadly Amanita. It is only their good 

 luck that saves them. The same people would look with horror on 

 a Coprin or a puff ball, and would think it sudden and sure death, 

 although these could not possibly be mistaken for any poisonous 

 species. 



Coprinus — One of the commonest genus is the Coprinus. It 

 is also one of the most useful to know, comprizing as it does, several 

 esculent species that are easily distinguished. 



The distinctive feature of this genus is that these mushrooms 

 have dark spores, and after a few days exposure they turn to ink, 

 and run away leaving only a black spot where they had been. 



I had this well illustrated about a year ago. Some one kindly 



