ESCULENT FUNGI OF GREAT BRITAIN. 357 
sometimes yellowish in the centre, not unfrequently 
somewhat squamose. Lamellae numerous, whitish or 
very pale-flesh colour becoming slowly darker, but at 
kngth black, of a more fleshy substance than the pre- 
ceding. Stem 3 — 5 inches long, thick, firm, solid, 
w^hite, somewhat bulbous at the base, furnished with 
a distinct collar or annular veil. 
SowEEBY mentions, that, in England, this fungus is 
known to the country people by the name of wJiite-caps. 
In France it is called champignons des hruyereSy and boide 
de neige ; in Piedmont, prataiolo moggiore bianco buono. 
I was rather doubtful for some time whether Ag. edulis 
of authors was the same as Ag. Georgii of our botanists. 
I have, however, seen the latter vary so much in some re- 
spects, especially in the pileus being quite smooth, or some- 
what scaly, that I was convinced of their general identity, 
on reading the following description by M. Paulet, whom 
Persoon quotes. " Ce champignon est d'^un blanc de neige 
lorsqu'il est frais^ avec des feuillets couleur de rose tendre, 
quelquefois lilas ; sa peau est toiijours unie, Jine^ et rCest 
point sujette a s''ecailler ; a mesure qm son chapiteau s'etale^ 
son voile ce dechire pour former le collet ; sa surface finit 
par roussir oujaunir, et ses feuillets par nourcir. II forme 
ahrs un plateau horizontal^ 
SowERBY, after mentioning their common name in Eng- 
land, observes, that they are constantly sold in the London 
markets ; and though, says he, " their dry and tough qua- 
lity renders them unfit for the table in any shape, we do 
not know that they possess any poisonous property.'"' Those 
which I have tasted myself, certainly were as good as the 
common mushroom, which is itself tough, if suflered to be- 
ycome too old before it is used. The French even give it 
