78 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



edification we may quote a very succinct description — 

 " Fairy rings consist, generally speaking, of circles, or 

 parts of circles of grass, of a darker colour, and more 

 luxuriant growth than the surrounding herbage, the 

 outer edge of the circle being well defined, while the 

 colour and stature of the grass diminish and fade so 

 gradually inwards, that it is difficult to determine the 

 exact limit of the ring towards the centre. Very 

 commonly there is to be observed an outer and con- 

 tiguous ring, much narrower than the inner, and of 

 which the grass is either short and weak, or faded 

 and brown, remarkably contrasting with the vivid 

 green of the inner ring : on this brown ring, or just 

 upon its margin, fungi are found. The duration of 

 fairy rings varies much : some disappear in a few 

 weeks, others endure for years. A severe winter 

 will obliterate the external traces of a ring, and 

 prevent the usual crop of fungi appearing upon it at 

 the proper season ; but such rirtgs often reappear, and 

 are thus considered to have been suddenly formed. 

 During the whole course of their appearance the 

 rings increase in diameter, spreading outwards from 

 the centre, the faded brown circle becoming rank 

 with green and copious grass, and a fresh outer circle 

 being formed of dead or feeble blades of grass. The 

 rate of increase is various, some enlarging their dia- 

 meter a few inches in the year, others as many feet. 

 The circles frequently meet in the course of : this 

 gradual enlargement. In such cases the point of 



