Journal of Proceedings. 
lxxi 
every part, the top being sometimes a shade darker than the gills and 
stem. Every part of the fungus is rather firm, and the stem tough, 
solid, and smooth. The gills are free from the stem, unusually broad 
and thick, and unusually distant from each other. The top is smooth 
and fleshy, and commonly furnished with a central elevation. It grows on 
grassy hills, sometimes on precipitous hill-sides or lawns in exposed 
wind-swept pastures, and amongst the short grass of roadsides. One 
of its chief characters is that it grows in, and causes fairy rings. The 
fungus is edible ; indeed it is one of the safest and most delicious of all 
edible Fungi. It seems just possible, however, that occasional examples 
are bad eating, and cause stomach-ache and other unpleasant symptoms; 
but I am inclined to think that these indigestible examples are very 
rare, and may be classed with such things as stale eggs, tough beef, high 
venison, and rank butter. In fact, the high gastronomic character of 
the true Fairy Ring Champignon shines with a more brilliant lustre by 
contrast with a few alien individuals unfit for the table. However, in 
case of accidents, errors, or inconvenience, I always advise beginners in 
fungophagy to be provided with a bottle of sweet oil. If dizziness, 
Fig. 6.—Fairy King. The ground partly shown in section, A centre, where the original 
Fungus has decayed, and whence springs the underground spawn, B. B., of the 
Fungus (Marasmius orecides), which gives rise to the Fairy Bing. 
« 
delirium, and cramp are found to be coming on, a draught of sweet oil is 
invaluable, for if enough be taken it causes immediate vomiting, and it 
tends to heal any damage that may be done to the throat and stomach 
by fungus poisoning. The Fairy Ring Agaric is extremely common, and 
grows from late summer to late autumn, so that it may be well esteemed as 
one of the greatest boons given to us by good fames and the great god Pan. 
“ The true explanation of the nature of fairy rings has been so often 
printed that I am almost ashamed to refer to it before this Society. 
Several persons have written to me of late to ask what my ‘ theory ’ and 
what my ‘ hypothesis ’ is as to fairy rings. My reply has every time been 
that I have got no ‘ theory ’ or ‘ hypothesis ’ either, for the facts are 
so perfectly well known that they do away with any necessity for a 
‘ theory.’ Many Fungi have a great tendency to grow in circles. The 
spawn from which Fungi spring commonly starts from a spot made up 
of germinating spores. This spot becomes a centre from which the 
spawn extends outwards in every direction; a crop of Fungi appears 
on the outer circular line of spawn. (See Fig. 6.) Such ring-like 
