EBIBLE MUSHROOMS. 43 



BLEWITS. 



Agaricus (Tricholoma) personatus. 



(Plate III. Fig. 3.) 



In external form and size, the Blewits 

 resembles the Common Mushroom, but with 

 these important diiFerences, that the gills 

 are whitish, and the spores are white ; the 

 stem has no collar, or ring, and is tinged 

 with lilac. It more nearly resembles the 

 St. George's Mushroom, only that it is 

 autumnal; commonly it is about three 

 inches across, and is to be found on downs 

 and short pastures. The flesh is thick and 

 firm, with a mushroomy odour. The top of 

 the pileus is generally greyish, and quite 

 smooth, and it absorbs water very readily, 

 so as to become sodden in wet weather, and 

 then of but little account. It has been 

 stated that it was formerly sold in Covent 

 Garden Market, but that has not been the 

 case during the past forty years ; neverthe- 

 less it is commonly sold, under the name of 



