184 Notes on Fungi. 



even and regular, though wider on .the outer side of the major 

 axis than the inner; in the other they are altogether irregular, 

 with three or four obtuse angles, and a large distinct nucleus. 



The subgenera of Hyporlwalii are the following — Volvaria, 

 Pluteus, Fmtoloma, Glitopilus , Lejotonia, Nolanea, Bccilia. 

 The two first of these have the gills absolutely free ; in the 

 remaining divisions they are variously attached, though some- 

 times very slightly, and often separating from the stem at 

 maturity. 



The first subgenus, Volvaria, which derives its name from 

 the volva being developed as strongly as in the most noble 

 Amanitce, and whose species in many respects approach 

 Agaricus ccesareus, figured in the number of the Intellectual 

 Observes for April, 1865, No. 39, contains a few very fine 

 species. The hymenophorum is perfectly distinct from the 

 stem, and though the universal volva is so highly developed, 

 there is no partial ring, a peculiarity which is observable in 

 the whole of the series. The gills are regularly rounded 

 behind, and sometimes they almost adhere together like the 

 gills of Oojorini, in consequence of the high development of 

 the cysts which are scattered over them. They are moreover 

 inclined to be deliquescent, and agree with the fugitive Coprini 

 in their affecting richly- manured spots, very decayed wood, or 

 fermenting vegetable matter, as tan. They are not in general 

 reckoned esculents, though Ag arias parvulus, which abounds 

 in rich grassy pastures, often gets into the mushroom basket, 

 either wilfully or accidentally. Viviani seems to think that 

 all the species of this subgenus are esculent, but he very wisely 

 adds a caution that we must wait for experience till we make 

 any positive assertion in the matter. 



Agaricus volvaceus sometimes grows in great abundance 

 on spent tan in hothouses, and one or two closely allied species, 

 but with a viscid pileus, occur now and then on the sides of 

 pathways. Agaricus coffece, Yiviani, has been found only on 

 coffee-grounds left to ferment for some months in a stove in 

 the botanic garden at Genoa. Another mushroom, A. Nea/po- 

 litanus, which is of a beautiful snowy white, and not like tin* 

 last reddish and streaked with darker lines, and apparently of 

 very different affinity, as the gills are very decurrent and there 

 is no mention of a volva, is procured in some quantity at 

 Naples in a similar way, and is constantly eaten. The coffee- 

 grounds are put into an earthern unvarnished vessel, which is 

 placed in the shade and slightly watered occasionally, and the 

 fungi appear at the end of six months. I tried more than 

 thirty years ago to obtain it in the same war in England, but 

 was not successful, perhaps from not having a sufficient quan- 

 tity of coffee marc at my disposal. 



