Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  "1 
December,  1896.  J 
Mushrooms  and  Fungi. 
66 1 
The  black-spored  series,  the  Coprinarii,  from  a  scratchy-looking 
Greek  word,  meaning  dung,  are  more  familiar  to  the  horticulturist 
than  any  other,  because  they  inhabit  their  manure  and  compost 
heaps,  and  are  abundant  upon  the  droppings  in  the  fields.  They 
are  the  scavengers  of  the  toadstool  family.  Yet  among  them  are 
found  the  most  tender,  toothsome  kinds.  The  little  brown  capped, 
black-gilled,  slender-stemmed  Coprinus  micaceus,  whose  tops  fre- 
quently glisten  as  if  sprinkled  with  fine  mica,  is  a  great  favorite  with 
all  mycophagists,  which  outlandish  word  means  toadstool  eaters. 
From  early  spring  until  frost  they  grow  singly,  or  in  inviting  clusters 
upon  manured  lawns,  about  yard  posts,  from  gutter  sides,  and, 
generally,  where  there  is  rich  living  for  them.  Though  small, 
seldom  over  an  inch  in  diameter,  their  plentifulness  soon  fills  the 
collector's  basket.  They  make  a  rich,  black  dish,  after  ten  minutes' 
stewing.  At  one  time  I  almost  lived  on  those  I  gathered  along 
the  street  sides  of  Haddonfield ;  but  I  have  taught  so  many  friends 
their  lusciousness,  that  the  ungrateful  wretches  now  rob  me  of  my 
food  supply.  When  once  a  person  is  inoculated  with  the  virus  of 
toadstool  eating,  all  gratitude,  friendship,  even  family  ties  vanish, 
and  he  or  she  will  race  for  an  edible  toadstool,  if  but  seen  through 
a  telescope. 
The  Coprinus  comatus,  or  maned  toadstool,  is  plentiful  in  our 
markets  after  summer  rains.  It  is  sold  under  the  name  of  truffle. 
The  truffle  grows  under  ground.  It  has  never  been  found  in 
America,  and  has  resisted  all  efforts  made  to  naturalize  it  as  a  deni- 
zen. The  Coprinus  comatus  grows  in  dense  clusters,  from  ashes  and 
dumpage,  or  places  rich  in  salts  of  lime  or  potash.  It  is  oval  in 
shape,  coated  with  revolute  scales  in  concentric  rings,  is  maned  on 
the  edges  of  the  cap  by  fragments  of  the  veil,  has  black  gills,  and, 
like  most  of  the  Coprinarii,  deliquesces  into  an  inky  fluid.  Both 
caps  and  stems  are  fine  eating.  It  is  very  prolific  and,  I  have  no 
doubt,  can  be  cultivated  by  transplanting  the  mycelium.  Early  in 
the  spring,  you  will  find  many  small,  brown-topped  toadstools,  not 
larger  than  a  ten-cent  piece,  scattered  all  over  your  lawns  and  grassy 
fields.  Gather  the  tops  and  eat  them  without  fear ;  they  are  luscious. 
All  the  black-spored  species  are  innocuous,  excepting  one,  which  is 
a  rapid  and  effectual  intoxicant. 
It  is  the  C.  papilonaceus.  It  grows  from  dung,  is  about  3 
inches  high,  caps  hemispherical  and  coated  with  scales  when  dry, 
