. In many o f the fan pi the Gills are covered and prote&ed in their infancy by a membrane, more or lefs thick
totally independent of the Volva, attached to the edge o f the Pileus one way, and round the ftalk the other.*
While the membrane is vifibly thus conne6led, which is1 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, almoft like
a cobweb, and which, when the Pileus is expanded, leave little or no traces o f their exiftence behind, as in the
Agaricus fafcicularis; The greateft part o f this membrane in feparating is generally left either with the Pileus
or Stipes: fometimes what it leaves remains with the Pileus, and is only fufficient to 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 proje&s horizontally, as in the (zruginofus; 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 chajra&ers which diftinguifli the prefent fpecies o f mulhroom, viz. a cap, more or lefs covered
with warts; a ftalk, bulbous at its bafe, and furnilhed above with a pendulous ftriated ruffle. Thefe will be found
in every perfefl fungus of this fort. Colour is not to be depended on ; the cap being fometimes, as in the variety
mufearius, of the moft beautiful crimfon, and very frequently, efpecially in Charlton Wood, of a cream
colour; but its moft ufual 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 reddilh Pileus is ufually mottled with red and
white. The whole fungus, but particularly the bafe, is apt to be foon deftroyedby the larvae of various infe6ls,
and among others by thofe of an undeferibed fpecies o f Tipula, fomewhat lefs than the Tipula plumofa, and
diftinguiftied by having its legs unufually hairy. It was by accident we difeovered the attachment of this infeft.
Betwixt the Velum and the Gills, previous to the feparation 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 thefe
Tipulas, which had introduced themfelves through an accidental aperture in the Velum,
The Agaricus yerrucofus is very common in all our woods about the middle of September. The mufearius
is plentiful only in particular fpots.
We had the curiolity to tafte this fhewy 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 miflgl^-en in my idea of this fenfation, I prevailed on my draughtfman and gardener to chew and fwallow
fome oT it, who complained of its producing a fimilar effe£t. Hence we may infer, that this fpecies, taken in
any quantity, ,is likely to prove highly poifonous. This effe£l accords with the account given o f it by different
authors. Scopoli makes mention or fome perfons being poifoned by it, miftaking it for the Agaricus cafareus.
H a l l e r relates, that fix perfons of Lithuania perilhed at'one time by eating it; and that in Kamtfchatka it
had driven others raven mad; that there, three or four of them are eaten without much effe6l, 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. L i n n j EUS fays, that flies are killed, S c o p o l i only ftupified, by tailing an infufion of the
mufearius in milk, whence its name, and that it is alfo inimical to.bugs; put we have certainly much better
remedies for thefe troublefome infefts.