44 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



VI.— SHAGGY CAPS. 



A DECEASED friend always characterised the fungus 

 about which we are now to write as " the fungus of 

 civilization," and the reason alleged for this cogno- 

 men was that it was always to be found near human 

 dwellings. There is no doubt of the fact that the 

 fungus known by the scientific name of Coprinus 

 comatus commonly makes its appearance, in the 

 metropolitan area, on waste places and clearings 

 which are being operated upon by the house-builder, 

 so that it is in such spots that we invariably go in 

 search of it for domestic purposes. 



There is no universal common name for this 

 characteristic fungus, although it has by some been 

 called the " Maned Agaric " and the " Shaggy Caps." 

 Perhaps the latter is as good an appellation as we 

 could find, as will be manifest from the description. 

 It is rarely found growing singly, but usually in 

 clusters, bursting through the ground like the dirty 

 white tops of pigeon's eggs ; but the cap or pileus is 

 from the first elongated and cylindrical, and not egg- 

 shaped or oval. When fully grown it will measure 

 fully six inches from the ground to its apex, and 

 often nine or ten inches. The cap itself seldom 

 exceeds four or five inches, in shape almost like an 

 extinguisher, with a rounded top, or rather an inverted 



