MISCELLANEOUS FUNGI 245 



most marked feature being the dense growth of 

 drooping spines. In my limited knowledge of edible 

 fungi at the time, I cautiously left the specimen in 

 the woods, afterwards to learn from 

 A dinner Dr. Harkness, the mycologist, that I 

 thrown away had " thrown away five pounds of the 

 most delicious fungus meat known to 

 the epicure." I have since found minor specimens 

 many times, and can readily understand the enthu- 

 siastic encomiums of my connoisseur friend as to its 

 esculent qualities. 



This species (Plate 28) cannot be confounded with 



any other; it is of a dark creamy color, and usually 



grows sidewise upon dead beech wood 



Haunt and (Plate 29), sometimes in great profu- 



description sion, especially in the summer. The 

 soft spines entirely cover the rounded 

 branching protuberances of the fungus. The upper 

 teeth are short and form a sort of " crown," falling 

 from which the more and more elongated spines are 

 firmly pendent beneath, somewhat suggesting as many 

 heads of tiny skye-terriers in crowded convocation 

 — or a tiny bleached " hedgehog," if you choose. 



A fungus bearing such conspicuous characteristics 

 may be gathered and eaten without fear, assuming 

 the specimen to be fresh and free from grubs. It will 

 be found an aromatic and savory morsel, though sim- 

 ply fried in butter and served on toast. 



One other species may be mentioned briefly, the 

 H. coralloides, or Moss -mushroom, which is unfamil- 

 iar to the writer, but which Curtis includes among 

 his edible fungi. It may be found growing sidewise 



