238 EDIBLE MUSHROOMS 



range in its color gamut. " Its color may be pale buff, 



rusty yellow, pale red, or sienna color." The " pale 



buff " will doubtless be found to be the 



Variations most common. In the variety rufescens 



varieties the size is smaller and the form more 

 symmetrical, but the general shape and 

 fringe-toothed spore surface are sufficient to identify 

 the typical species under any disguise of color. 



The cap is occasionally quite symmetrical, suggest- 

 ing the outline of a Boletus in profile, but more com- 

 monly is irregular and eccentric, with stem attached 

 towards its side, as indicated in section on previous 

 page. It may reach the diameter of five inches in 

 a fine specimen. 



Its favorite haunt is the open woods, where it may 

 be seen from the last of June until September, either 

 singly or in clusters, lifting the dried leaves from 

 their bed, or occasionally barely revealed beneath 

 them. 



But the most important and savory of the entire 

 group of Hydnei is the species following: 



THE MEDUSA HYDNUM 

 H. caput-meduscz 



While driving through the White Mountain Notch, 

 many years ago, I chanced upon a mass of cream- 

 colored, fringy fungus growing upon a fallen beech- 

 log by the side of the road. The fungus was then 

 entirely new to me, and I lost no time in making 

 a sketch of it, with notes. The growth covered a 

 space possibly eighteen inches wide by eight in height, 

 and I estimated it would weigh fully five pounds, its 



