( *99 ) 
feme of them, while in their unfolded Hate* 
are wholly enclofed in a membranaceous, or 
leathery cafe, called the volve. This cafe muft 
not be confounded with that part fo termed 
by Linneus. Mr. Bolton has fhown us the 
juft diftinction betwixt the volve, and the 
veil or curtain, the latter being what Linneus 
has marked as the calyx, under the term 
volve; which has occafioned a confufion in 
ihefe two parts, though in reality none can be 
more evidently diftincl, applicable to dif- 
ferent purpofes : the volve wrapping round 
and protecting the whole plant in it's in- 
fant Hate ; the veil apparently belonging to 
the fuppofed parts of fructification only., 
which Hedwig afferts he has found under 
it. From the remains of the veil a ring is 
formed : this part is not only uncertain in it's 
time of duration, but even will appear in 
fome years on the ftipe, and not in others; 
confequently it cannot be ufed as a perma- 
nent character. The ftem of an agaricus is 
either folid or hollow ; the folid ftem differs 
much in it's degree of folidity, fom crimes 
being as folid as the flefli of an apple, and 
fometimes perfectly fpongy. Next to the 
gills, the ftem of an agaric is the part leaft 
O 4 liable 
