146 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



the sense of taste, and this is well exemplified in the 

 different opinions which different people are in the 

 habit of expressing as to the peculiar odours of fungi. 

 Present the same specimen to half a dozen individuals 

 by way of experiment, and no two of them will ex- 

 press the odour in the same terms. This renders it 

 the more difficult for us to describe odours, which 

 should be inhaled to be correctly appreciated. 



Sweet odours are not at all common in fungi, but 

 the " green, sweet mushroom " (Agaricus odorus) is 

 one of the exceptions. It is always more or less 

 fragrant, and always the same odour, whether fresh or 

 dried, and is usually called an odour of anise. The 

 little species which is its possessor is to be found in 

 woods, growing amongst dead leaves, and seldom 

 more than three or four at a time, often only one or 

 two. The odour is rather strong and fascinating ; 

 when once inhaled there is a persistent inclination to 

 keep sniffing at it, and, fortunately, the agaric is not 

 fragile, but bears the handling exceedingly well. In 

 drying the odour does not disappear, but perhaps 

 rather to increase. The cap of this agaric is usually 

 about an inch and a half or two inches in diameter, 

 thin in the flesh, and of a peculiar dull bluish green, 

 which it is difficult to imitate. It is something of 

 a dull peacock green, approaching verdigris green, 

 but not exactly either, quite smooth, but never viscid 

 or shining, and with the texture of a good kid glove. 

 The stem is short and white, about as thick as a pipe 



