INTRODUCTION. 19 



base extends deep into the ground, and is 

 sheathed with a membrane that is loose and 

 easily broken oflf. It is a very common mush- 

 room, and we shall often find it, but it varies 

 in color ; it is sometimes umber, often white, 

 and even has a faint yellowish or greenish hue 

 in the centre. 



So far we have only looked at Amanitas. They 

 are conspicuous, and the large rings and colors 

 are striking and interesting to the novice ; but 

 look at that clay bank that borders on our road, 

 and perhaps we may discover some Boleti, Even 

 a beginner in the study of mushrooms can tell 

 the difference between a boletus and those we 

 have been examining. Here are two or three 

 mushrooms growing together. "What is there 

 different about them ? We see no ring, no mem- 

 brane around the base of stem, and what are these 

 tubes beneath the cap so unlike the gills of the 

 others ? They have the appearance somewhat 

 of a sponge. These are the pores or tubes that 

 contain the spores. Let us divide the fungus. 

 At the first touch of the knife, through the 

 stem, the color begins to change, and in a mo- 

 ment stem, tubes, and cap turn to a bright blue. 

 We can see the color steal along, at first faintly, 

 and then deepen into a darker blue. The cap 



