68 MUSHROOMS. 



covered with scales, soft, and brownish in colour ; flesh white 

 and cottony; stem long, 6in. or more high, hollow, and bul- 

 bous at the base, furnished with scales; gills pale flesh; ring 

 movable. Possesses a pleasing odour, and is said to be a 

 most wholesome fungus of delicate flavour. In best condi- 

 tion in a young state. Often sold in Covent Garden Market. 



Maned Agr^'i'ic (Coprinus comatus). — A verj' common 

 mushroom, often to be met with in summer and autumn on 

 roadsides, in pastures, and in gardens. Says Miss Plues : 

 " It grows in dense clusters, each plant like an attenuated 

 egg, white and smooth. Presently some exceed the others 

 in rapidity of growth, and their heads get above the ground, 

 the stem elongates rapidly, the ring falls loosely around the 

 stem, the margin of the pileus enlarges, and the oval head 

 assumes a bell shape ; then a faint tint of brown spreads 

 tmiversally or in blotches over the upper part of the pileus, 

 and the whiteness of its gills changes to a dull pink. A few 

 more hours, and the even head of the pileus has split in a 

 dozen places, the sections curl back, melt out of all form 

 into an inky fluid, and on the morrow's dawn a black stain 

 on the ground will be all that remains." It is " singularly 

 rich, tender, and delicious in flavour," remarks Mr. Wor- 

 thington G. Smith. Excellent for soups or ketchup. 



Brown Warty Agraric (Agaricus rubescens).— This, 

 also known as the Red-Fleshed Mushroom, is a common fun- 

 gus in woody places in summer and autumn. Experts con- 

 sider it a delicately-flavoured and most wholesome kind. 

 The pileus is convex in shape at first, then expanding flat ; 

 epidermis brown and covered with warts ; gills white ; flesh 

 turns sienna-red when bruised ; stem hollow and bulbous at 

 base wlien old. Has a strong smell. Plentiful in oak Avoods 

 in summer and autumn, and makes excellent ketchup. 



Clouded Mushroom (Agaricus nebularis).— A not 

 very common species, with a firm, fragrant flesh which is 

 much appreciated by epicures. The fungus grows on dead 



