X I N T R o D U C T I Û N.
an oval figure while youftg, conical when full grown, and in decay lacerates
and diffolvesj that of the annulatus, globular while young, when full
grown bell-ihaped, and withers in decay. Thé gills in the Jimitarius turn
from a red to a bkck colour, and melt into a black, inky fluid ; thofe of
the annulatus change to a pale brown, and wither. In ^Jimitarius, the
curtain" vaniihes as foon as it has performed its office ; in the annulatus, it
abides after its feparation from the pileus, and remains upon the item to
the laft.
As a previous knowledge of the parts of an Agaric, will be neceffary
to the making the above obfervations, it may not be judged improper togive
a ihort and plain 'explanation of them referring to the figures in the
plate, at the head of this introduction.
Explanation of the Plate\
F I G. , A.
Represents a young plant of -the Agaricus mufcarius, cloyen downright,
to ihew the fituation of the root, ilem, and pileus, while the plant
is yet furrounded by. the, vol va-; the curtain is. removed to ihew the fituation
of the gills. Fig. i, the volva. Fig. 4, the gills.
. ' F 1
The fame plant, reprefented as a little advanced ingrowth, to ihew
the manner in which the volva, jig. 1, is torn by the increafe of the
pileus and item.
F 1 G. , . Ç:>-:
Shews the curtain,/^. 3, extended frofn the item to the rim of the
pileus, unbrok^i, and performing its office. Fig. 2§jthe pileus or hat.
F I G.
I N T R O D U C T I O N . • xi
F - I G.- D.
Shews the curtain lacerated, or torn in fragments, part remaining upon
thé item, and part on the rim or margin of the pileus. :—examples of
which we have in the Agaricus. pompatus*, villofus, cajianeus, &c.
Reprefentfe-the curtain fe'pvating from the pileus all round its margin*
without being torn, as in the Agaricus mufcarius~\, verrucofus, &c.
. . F IJ'SÊFFC _ F.
Shews the gills, fig. 4, branched, or divided and fubdivided ; the
ihorter being united at their bafe into the longer : as in the Agaricus!
chanterelhis, ipfundibuliformis§, &c. .
F I G . G.
Shews the gills'arranged in three feries, of unequal length ; the firft
feries extended from the, top of the ilem to the rim of the pileus ; the
fécond feries extended, but two thirds of the way, and the third feries extends
but-one third of the way from the rim-towards the centre : and this
arrangement of the gills is the moil common. It is however fubjed: to
irregularity j the fame feries fometimes varying in length, in refpeét to
,one; another ; fo'metimes the alternate order of their difpofition is not regular,
and the fécond and third feries are fometimes deficient in their
number,.
F I G . H.
Shews the gills arranged in two feries, lis in the Agaricus mufcariusJ
and Agaricus politus -,—but of this arrangement we have but few examples
in the Engliih Agarics.
b 2. FI G .
• -' • . * Tab. 5, io. f Tab, ,27 § Tab; 34. J T a b . »7, 30.