p and on the stem. The pileus is two to three inches broad, at first
white, then spotted (as well as the stem) with reddish brown spots or
stains, fleshy, very firm, convex, sometimes nearly plane, even, smooth,
truly carnose, compact, at first hemispherical and with an involute
margin, often repand.

The gills are somewhat crowded, narrow, adnexed, often free, linear,
white or whitish, often brownish cream, gills not reaching to the margin
of the cap.

The stem is three to four inches long, nearly solid, more or less
grooved, stout, unequal, sometimes ventricose, frequently partially
bulbous, lighter than the gills, usually spotted in age, white at first.
The spores are subglobose, 4-6u. The plant is a hardy one. It will keep
for several days. The plants in Figure 82 grew in the woods where a log
had rotted down.

Var. immaculata, Cooke, differs from the typical form in not changing
color or being spotted, and in the broader and serrated gills. This
variety delights in fir woods. September to November.

_Collybia atrata. Fr._

CHARCOAL COLLYBIA.

[Illustration: Figure 83.--Collybia atrata. One-half natural size. Caps
dull blackish-brown. Gills grayish-white.]

Atrata, clothed in black; from the pileus being very black when young.
The pileus is from one to two inches broad, at first regular and convex,
when expanded becoming, as a rule, irregular in shape, sometimes
partially lobed or wavy; in young plants the cap is a dull blackish
brown, faded in older specimens to a lighter brown, umbilicate, smooth,
shining.

The gills are adnate, slightly crowded, with many short ones, rather
broad, grayish-white.

The stem is smooth, equal, even, hollow, or stuffed, tough, short, brown
within and without, but lighter than the cap. The plant grows in
pastures where stumps have been burned out, always, so far as I have
noticed, on burned ground. Spores .00023x.00016.

_Collybia ambusta. Fr._

THE SCORCHED COLLYBIA.

Ambusta, burned or scorched, from its being found on burned soil.

The pileus is nearly membranaceous, convex, then expanded, nearly plane,
papillate, striatulate, smooth, livid brown, hygrophanous, umbonate.

The gills are adnate, crowded, lanceolate, white, then of a smoky tinge.

The stem is somewhat stuffed, tough, short, livid. Spores 5-6x3-4.

This species differs from C. atrata in having an umbonate pileus.

_Collybia confluens. Pers._

THE TUFTED COLLYBIA. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Fi