Mushrooms, Fungi, or Toadstools 403 



have oyster beds in our woods without knowing it, and the 

 oyster mushroom is a good example of valuable food going 

 to waste. It is found growing in clusters on old dead wood, 

 logs or standing trunks. Its cap is smooth, moist and white 

 or tinged with ash or brown. The gills and spores are 

 white. The flesh is white and tough. It measures two or 

 six inches across. Sometimes it has no stem. It is a 

 favorite for the table. It needs careful cleaning and long 

 cooking. There is no poisonous species at all Uke it. 



Also, belonging to the GiUed or true mushroom family, are 

 the Ink-caps of the Genus Coprinus. They grow on dung 

 piles and rich groimd. They spring up over night and per- 

 ish in a day. In the last stage the gills turn into a black 

 fluid, yes, into ink. At one time this was used for ink, a 

 quantity of the black stuff being boiled and strained for the 

 purpose. It is still a good scout dye for roots, quills, etc. 

 The spores of Coprinus are black. It is strange that such 



poisonous looking things 

 should be good food. 

 Yet all the authorities 

 agree that the Ink-caps 

 are safe, delicious, easily 

 identified and easily 

 cooked. There is no poi- 

 sonous mushroom with 

 black spores at present 

 known in North Amer- 

 ica. 



Inky Coprinus (Co- 

 prinus alrameniarius) . 

 This is the species illus- 

 trated. The example 

 was from the woods; 

 Inky coprinus, often it is much more 



