NOLAXEA. 261 



broad, yellowish, tten pink, at length with a tawny tinge ; 

 stem 2—3 in. long, about 1 line thick, tough, nearly or quite 

 straight, minutely pruinose, chestnut then blackish below, 

 paler and miniitely velvety upwards, indistinctly hollow. 



Agaricus pisciodcn-us, Cesati, in Crypt. Ital., i. p. 61, t. 3, 

 f. 2 ; Cke., Hdbk., p. 134 ; Cke., Illustr., pi. 378a. 



Among leaves in woods, &c. 



Smell strong, resembling stinking fish. 



Fries considers the present species to be very close to 

 N. nigripes, having the same smell, and difiering only in 

 colour. Judging from British specimens that agree with 

 both species respectively, the present may be distinguished 

 by the velvety feel of the pileus, and the thicker, straight 

 stem being pale and rather velvetv at the apex. 



Speaking at the annual fungus foraj' meeting of the Wool- 

 hope Club, Dr. M. C. Cooke made the following remarks 

 respecting certain species of Nolanea and Naucoria : " There 

 are three or four closely similar forms to each other which 

 have hitherto borne distinctive names, but which I am 

 beginning to think do not deserve that honour. This group 

 includes, as we know them, Agaricus (Nolanea) pisciodorus, 

 Cesati ; Ag. (Nolanea) piceus, Kalchbr. ; Ag. (Naucoria) 

 cucumis, Pers. ; and Ag. (Nolanea) nipi-ipes, Trog." 



After an analysis of the specific diagnosis. Dr. Cooke says : 

 " It must be observed that only one of these forms which 

 departs from the type in any feature which would warrant 

 specific distinction is the last [Ag. (Nolanea) piceus, Kalchbr.], 

 which is the only truly aberrant form, in virtue of the 

 robust stem, papillate pileus, and emarginate gills." 



" If I might venture an opinion, based on the belief that 

 Ag. cucumis is not really a good Naucoria, but rather a 

 Nolanea, I should suggest that Agaricus nigripes, pisciodorus, 

 and cucumis are varieties of one species, call it by whatever 

 name you please, and that Ag. piceus has distinctive features 

 which might warrant its retention as a fairly good species. 

 At any rate, it is an open question, which merits investi- 

 gation in the light of these suggestions." (Grev., vol. xix. 

 p. 30.) 



The above suggestions have not been adopted in the 

 present work, notwithstanding the fact that, so far as an 

 analysis of the respective existing specific characters is eon- 



