EXPLANATORY. 



21 



under examination has a ring or not. The stem is 

 sometimes solid throughout, and sometimes hollow 

 in the centre ; and in a few cases is so short as to be 

 scarcely visible. There is sometimes a loose, or 

 fixed, volva, or sheath, at the base of the stem, but it 

 is only present in one or two species which are 

 edible, and is not shown in the woodcut. In passing, 



it may be remarked that, although the greater 

 number of fleshy fungi have the radiating plates, or 

 gills, on the under side of the pileus, or cap, yet there 

 are some in which the gills are replaced by tubes or 

 pores, or else by acute spines or teeth. 



The gill-plates are variable in colour in different 

 species, and it is important that this colour should 



