In many of the fungi the gills arc covered and protefted in their infancy by a membrane, more or lets thick, 
totally independent of the Volva, attached to the edge of the Pileus one way, and round the ftalk the other. 
While the membrane is vifibly thus connected, which is juft as the Pileus is beginning to expand, we call it the 
Velum or Veil, though generally the term is applied to thofe membranes which are remarkably thin, almolt like a 
cobweb, and which, when the Pileus is expanded, leave little or no traces of their exiftence behind, as in the 
jfciriaa. fufiicularis. The greateft part of this membrane ill feparating is generally left either with the Pileus or 
Stipes : fometimes what it leaves remains with the Pileus, and is only lufficientto give the edge a ragged or toothed 
appearance ; but more commonly, where it is in any degree fubftantial, it leaves the Pileus, and attaches itfelf to the 
Stipes, where it either projefts horizontally, as in the aruginofus ; or becomes pendulous, as in the prefent fpecies. 
This part, thus attached to the ftalk, we call the Annulus, Ring or Ruffle. 
There are three charaaers which diftinguifli the prefent fpecies of muffiroom, viz. a cap, more or lets covered 
with warts ; a ftalk, bulbous at its bafe, and furniftied above with a pendulous ftriated ruffle. Thefe will be found 
in every perfea fungus of this fort. Colour is not to be depended on ; the cap being fometimes, as in the variety 
■mufcarius, of the moft beautiful crimfou, and very frequently, efpecially in Charlton Wood, of a cream colour; 
but its moft ul'ual tint is a dingy red, inclining to brown. The Gills are always white at firft, and become of a 
dingy red at laft. The ftalk in thofe which have a reddiffi Pileus is ufually mottled with red and white. The 
whole fungus, but particularly the bafe, is apt to be foon deftroyed by the larvas of various infers, and among 
others by thofe of an undefcribed fpecies of Tipula, fomewhat lefs than the Tipula plumofa , and diftinguiflied by 
having its legs unufually hairy. It was by accident we difcovered the attachment of this infect. Betwixt 
the Velum and the Gills, previous to the Reparation of the former from the edge of the Pileus, there is a 
confiderable cavity. In this cavity we found, in a young fungus of this fpecies, at leaft twenty of tliefe Tipulas, 
which had introduced themlelves through an accidental aperture in the Velum. 
The Agaricus verrucofus is very common in all our woods about the middle of September. The mufcarius is 
plentiful only in particular fpots. 
We had the curiofity to tafte this Ihewy fungus. Chewed, it was not unpleafant in the mouth ; fwallowed, 
it quickly produced a difagreeable burning kind of fenfation in the throat, which extended to the ftomach, though 
the quantity fwallowed was but fmall ; and this fenfation continued a confiderable time. That I might not be 
miftaken in my idea of this fenfation, I prevailed on my draughtfman and gardener to chew and fwallow fome 
of it, who complained of its producing a fimilar effedt. Hence we may infer, that this fpecies, taken in any 
quantity, is likely to prove highly poifonous. This effedt accords with the account given of it by different authors. 
Scqpoli makes mention of fome perfons being poifoned by it, miftaking it for the Agaricus cafareus. Haller 
relates, that fix perfons of Lithuania perifhed at one time by eating it; and that ill Kamtfchatka it had driven 
others raving mad ; that there, three or four of them are eaten without much effedt, but that ten intoxicate : 
neverthelefs, the Ruffians eat it with their food; and the inhabitants of Kamtfchatka prepare a liquor from this 
fungus, and a fpecies of Epilobium, which, taken in fmall quantities, inebriates, and produces a trembling of the 
nerves, making fome joyous, others melancholy. The very urine of thofe who drink it is found to intoxicate. 
Linnjeus fays, that flies are killed, Scopoli only ftupified, by tailing an infufion of the mufcarius in milk, whence 
its name, and that it is alfo inimical to bugs ; but we have certainly much better remedies for’ thefe troublefome 
infers. 
