Hi) 



in many species of concentric bands of deeper color on the 

 surface of the pileus, producing what is termed a zonate pileus. 

 The Lactariae are found chiefly in woods or on the border of 

 woods, and they vary in size from species with the pileus less 

 than 2 cm. broad to species having a pileus 15 cm, or more 

 across. 



Milk. — The first field-note to be made is regarding the color 

 of the milk and whether the color changes upon contact with the 

 air. Sometimes when the milk is at first white and then changes 

 to some shade of yellow, the change comes so rapidly that care- 

 ful observation is necessary to detect that the milk is white at 

 first. This is true in Lactavia rcsinia. Again a change may not 

 be noticeable for several minutes. A collector should always be 

 positive as to whether or not the color of the milk does change' 

 upon exposure to the air. It may be that wounds will be dis- 

 colored, while the milk remains white, as in the case of Lactatia 

 volema, in which the gills and flesh become brow^nish where in- 

 jured. Lactavia fuliginosa has white milk which according to 

 European mycologists changes to salmon. In the American 

 species the gills and cut flesh show the change very decidedly 

 but a drop of the milk remains white except where in contact 

 with the flesh. In order to distinguish betw^een such changes, it 

 is necessary to watch a large drop of milk until satisfied as to the 

 truth. It is always well to state in the field-notes " milk white, 

 unchanging " or " milk white, changing " in order to indicate that 

 such careful observation has been made. 



It is also necessary to know the taste of the milk. This may 

 be mild, that is with no decided taste, or sweetish, or the milk 

 may be mild at first and in fifteen seconds or more become 

 peppery on the tongue ; sometimes it is bitter and astringent, and 

 again it may be extremely acrid from the first as in Lactavia 

 pipevata. Since the taste differs sometimes in young and old 

 specimens, it is best to taste more than one. None of the 

 Lactaviae so far as is known are extremely poisonous, and there 

 will be no danger in tasting the milk, but it will be advisable not 

 to swallow the juice. 



Pileus. — One of the distinguishing points of a species is the 



