656 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Lactarius distans Pk. 

 . This species was described and published in 23d report, p. 117, and 

 its resemblance to Lactarius hygrophoroides B. & C. was recognized. In 

 38th report, p. 129 it was regarded as a form of that species and united 

 with it. In taking this view of the case it is necessary to suppose that the 

 very brief description of L. hygrophoroides was founded on unusually small 

 specimens and was also somewhat faulty. I have never been able to find 

 a single specimen of our species with a pulverulent pileus, nor can the 

 lamellae be correctly described as decurrent, though they are sometimes 

 subdecurrent. In Sylloge the two plants are kept distinct and this seems 

 to be the best coui'se to pursue till we can be more certain of the unity 

 of the species. 



Another species has been described under the name Lactarius Calceo- 

 lus Berk. This also has many points of agreement with our plant, but 

 differs in others. Its pileus is described as smooth and the color of it 

 and the stem is said to be brown buff. Its lamellae are very few, not 

 exceeding 20, and are forked near the edge. These characters are liot 

 shown by any specimens of our plant that have come under my notice. 



Boletus Ravenelii B. 6" C. 



The flesh of this beautiful species has a very acrid taste. It is as sharp 

 as that of Lactarius rufus. 



Hydnum Caput-ursi brevispineum //. var. 



Aculei very short, usually 2 to 4 lines long, some of them minutely and 

 fimbriately divided. 



Standing trunk of a maple tree. Auburn. September. G. H. Nye. 



The bear's head hydnum, is an extremely variable species and he who 

 expects to find every species of mushroom adhering strictly to one 

 particular shape, size and outline will be disappointed in this one. 

 Its solid fleshy body may vary in length from 2 inches to 8 inches. 

 The teeth or spines may be 2 lines or 2 inches long, stout or slender 

 simple or branched, and the color which is usually white may be tinged 

 with yellow or pink. The essential character of the species is a solid 

 fleshy body with short, projecting branches bearing numerous simple or 

 branched spines of unequal length. 



