136 EDIBLE MUSHROOMS 



barely a trace of insect life when gathered will some- 

 times prove literally honey-combed and totally unfit 

 for food in the space of twenty-four hours. It is 

 therefore well to cut each specimen in sections be- 

 fore venturing upon its preparation for the table, and 

 to profit thereby according to our individual fastidi- 

 ousness, as suggested on page 2)1 ■ 



While the above esculent species of Russulas are 

 being familiarized by the tyro, he must now be put 

 on guard against a certain dangerous species of the 

 group, which is sure to claim his attention, being 

 especially fond of the good company of its cousins, 

 and likely to do some mischief through its frequent 

 disguise. 



POISONOUS OR EMETIC MUSHROOM 

 Russula emetica 



The variability in the coloring of the three edible 

 species already described brings them occasionally 



into such close similarity with the 



The poisonous gamut of color of the one common poi- 



Russula sonous species of the group that this 



enemy must also be familiarized ere we 

 venture too confidently upon our Russula diet. The 

 Russula emetica (Plate 13), as its name implies, is at 

 war with luxurious gastronomy, but its distinction 

 from the harmless varieties is, after all, quite simple. 

 Its frequent general similarity to R. lepida and R. 

 alutacea is such that the amateur should hardly rely 

 upon the botanical characters alone. There is but 

 one safe, as it is a simple, rule for him : He should 

 taste every specimen of his Russula of whatever kind 



