AGARICS I I 3 



POISONOUS FAIRY-RING MUSHROOM 

 Marasmius peronatus 



The other false species (Plate 9, fig. 2) still more 

 closely simulates the "fairy-ring," but may be identi- 

 fied by the growth of spines at the base of the stalk. 

 The gills are also annexed to the stalk by a small, 

 sharp, recurved tooth. Like the previous spurious 

 species, it is found in woods, and is rarely to be seen 

 in association with the true Champignon or in its 

 peculiar haunt. 



THE PASTURE MUSHROOM 

 Agaricus {Lepiotd) procerus 



One of the most readily recognized of our wild 

 mushrooms is the pasture or parasol Agaric {Aga- 

 ricus procerus), a cluster of which in 

 various stages of development is shown 

 in Plate 10. It is frequently abundant 

 in pasture - lands, and is occasionally 

 found in woods. Its conspicuous cap sometimes 

 measures six inches or more in diameter, the centre 

 being abruptly raised in a mound. The pileus is at 

 first egg-shaped. The color of the full specimen is 

 pale-brown or buff, more or less spotted with darker 

 brown shaggy patches, generally arranged in some- 

 what concentric order. The skin of the cap is thick 

 and somewhat tough, especially in drying. The gills 

 are almost pure white in early specimens, slightly 

 creamy later, and unequal in length. Stem, often 

 six or eight inches high, proportionately slender, and 

 of equal diameter, bulbous at base, but without a 



