THE NATURALIST AND COLLECTOR 
15 
Some of Our Mushrooms. 
T HE growing-demand for informa¬ 
tion in regard to our fungi, and 
the absence of suitable works 
on the subject have induced us 
to compile this article. There is a pop¬ 
ular belief that mushrooms of vivid 
colors and viscid caps are poisonous, 
but this is not always the case. A con¬ 
spicuous example is shown in Russula 
« alulacea , in which the pileus is purplish- 
red, and various other highly colored 
species are harmless. Edible mush¬ 
rooms are usually characterized by an 
odor like that of fresh meal and a flavor 
of hazel nuts. Poisonous species pro¬ 
duce a biting, burning sensation on the 
tongue and emit an unpleasant odor. 
There are many exceptions to this rule, 
however, and the only sure way is to 
be able to identify each variety as met 
w-ith. To facilitate the identification 
we g-ive the following descriptions of 
common species. 
(.Amanita muscaria.) 
A poisonous species found from June 
to October. The cap is ovate, becom¬ 
ing-convex near the center, viscid, cov¬ 
ered with warts of a yellowish color. 
The gills are white, the stem white or 
yellowish, bearing a white ring or an¬ 
nulus. It is from five to eight inches 
high, with a cap from three to six 
inches in breadth. 
This mushroom is edible, has a hem¬ 
ispherical cap. smooth, of a bright red 
or orange color, shaded with lemon 
yellow toward the margin, which is 
distinctly striate. The stem tapers 
slightly upward, being of a clear light 
yellow color, bearing a brownish ring 
toward the top. and encased in a large 
white volva. Gills of a bright lemon 
yellow. It is generally found five to 
eight inches in height. 
GIANT PUFFBALL. 
(Lycoperdon gigantum ) 
The giant Puffball is one of the most 
valuable of edible mushrooms. It is 
