st George's mushroom. 6i 



possible. The similarity extends even to the flavour 

 when cooked, although we retain a preference for the 

 former. The Blewits should not be collected for the 

 table when they are water-logged ; since they will 

 hardly give satisfaction in that condition, but when in 

 a good state, they are undoubtedly an excellent 

 esculent. 



Another species which seems to have been con- 

 founded by earlier writers with " Blewits " under the 

 name of "Blue Caps" is a very common autumnal 

 species amongst dead leaves in woods. Perhaps for 

 this the name of " Bluecaps " might be appropriated 

 {Agaricus nudus). It is really a very fine and hand- 

 some species, gregarious like the others, but when 

 young of a light violet blue, becoming ruddy with 

 age. In books it is said to be two inches in diameter, 

 but we have seen twenty individuals growing to- 

 gether, not one of which was less than five or six 

 inches. The cap is at first convex, but soon flattened, 

 quite smooth, not viscid, and at last depressed, and 

 almost brick red. It has been called amethyst 

 colour, but there is much more blue in the tone than 

 in amethyst, and it has always a remarkably clean 

 appearance. The stem varies according to the size 

 of the cap, for in the large specimens alluded to it was 

 six or seven inches long, and more than an inch thick, 

 but more commonly it is half those dimensions. In 

 colour the stem is similar to the cap, but perhaps a 

 little paler, with a little white woolliness at the base. 



