EDIBLE MUSHROOMS.. 53 



IVORY CAPS. 



Bygrophorus virgineus. 



(Plate V. Pig. 3.) 



This is one of the snowy white species 

 which ornament lawns, and short pastures, 

 in the autumn for some time after the 

 appearance of frost. Most of tliem are 

 covered with a viscid moisture, like gum- 

 water, and it is probably that which pro- 

 tects them from injury by the light frosts. 

 This is comparatively small, commonly about 

 one inch across the pileus, but occasionally 

 two or three inches. The gills are broad, 

 wide apart, and veined, and the spores are 

 quite white. The stem is short, but firm, 

 attenuated downwards, and the gills run 

 about half-way down. "We have never 

 detected any odour, and the taste is mild. 

 There is no doubt that all these white 

 species, which are in the habit of decorating 

 lawns in the latter part of the year, are 

 quite harmless, and some of them delicate 



