88 EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS. 



grown to the bulb, the upper margin torn 

 and loose. When very young the cap is 

 covered by the volva, which soon cracks, 

 and the young cap rises on its stem, bear- 

 ing fragments of the torn volva attached 

 to it, whilst the remainder is left like a 

 ragged membrane attached to the bulbous 

 base. Whilst fresh it has very little odour, 

 but soon after being gathered it smells 

 more strongly, becoming more or less stink- 

 ing in decay. The variety which is pure 

 white, sometimes called a distinct species 

 under the name of Agaricus vernus, only 

 seems to differ in colour and in its less foetid 

 odour, and is equally dangerous. Against 

 these we utter the strongest and most 

 emphatic warning. The spores are white, 

 and it has not the least resemblance to 

 the Common Mushroom. 



