BUFF CAPS AND IVORY CAPS. 1 37 



and either boiled or fried are an excellent dish for the 

 breakfast table. 



There is, however, another Hygrophorus which can- 

 not be omitted, since it is one of the most splendid 

 in colour and delicate in flavour. This is the large 

 crimson species found on lawns in the latter days of 

 autumn {Hygrophorus coccineus). There is no fungus 

 with which it can be confounded save one, and that 

 is another species of the same genus, which is also 

 edible, and hence there is no danger. The cap is 

 obtusely conical, two inches in height, or more, of a 

 bright crimson, but soon turning pale at the top ; in 

 expanding it usually splits in the line of the gills, for 

 the substance of the cap is rather thin ; it is elevated 

 upon a hollow reddish stem, an inch longer than the 

 cap, and the gills are tinged with crimson. It is a 

 most unmistakable object, and has been depicted in 

 books and pictures over and over again. Until 

 recently we did not attempt to verify the report that 

 it was excellent eating, but having found some half 

 a dozen tempting specimens, we made drawings of 

 them first and devoured them afterwards. Grilled 

 with a piece of butter, salt and pepper, and served 

 on toast they proved to be most delicate and delicious. 

 There was not the slightest indication of toughness, 

 for indeed the entire fungus is so tender and fragile 

 that such a condition was never feared ; but we were 

 scarcely prepared to experience such a delicacy as it 

 proved to be. 



