unchangeable. The pileus is about two inches broad;
compact, hemispherical, then expanded; regular, slightly viscid, thin
margin at first incurved, sometimes with fragments of the web-like veil
adhering.

The gills are notched, thin, crowded, quite entire, purplish, at length
clay-colored or cinnamon.

The stem is solid, short, covered with threads, whitish, bulbous, from
one and a half to two and a half inches long.

The plant is quite variable in size but constant in color. It is found
in woods. I found specimens at Salem, Ohio, and at Bowling Green, Ohio.
September to November.

_Cortinarius caerulescens. Fr._

THE AZURE-BLUE CORTINARIUS. EDIBLE.

Caerulescens, azure-blue. Pileus fleshy, convex, expanded, even, viscid,
azure-blue, flesh soft, not changing color when bruised.

The gills are attached to the stem, slightly rounded behind, crowded,
quite entire, at first of a pure dark blue, then rusty from the spores.

The stem is solid, attenuated upward, firm, bright violet, becoming
pale, whitish, bulb growing less with age, fibrillose from vein. Spores
elliptical. Neither the flesh nor the gills change color when bruised.
This fact distinguishes it from C. purpurascens. When young the entire
plant is more or less blue, or bluish-purple, and the color never
entirely leaves the plant. In age it becomes somewhat spotted with
yellow. The flesh is a little tough and needs to be stewed for some
time. Found in Whinnery's woods, Salem, Ohio. September to October.

TRIBE II. MYXACIUM.

_Cortinarius collinitus. Fr._

THE SMEARED CORTINARIUS. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 235.--Cortinarius collinitus. One-half natural
size. Caps purplish-brown, also showing veil.]

Collinitus means smeared. The pileus is at first hemispherical, convex,
then expanded, obtuse; smooth, even, glutinous, shining when dry;
purplish when young, later brownish; at first incurved.

The gills are attached to the stem, rather broad, dingy-white or
grayish-tan when young, then cinnamon.

The stem is solid, cylindrical, viscid or glutinous when moist,
transversely cracking when dry, whitish or paler than the cap. The
spores are elliptical, 12x6u. I found this species in Tolerton's woods,
Salem, Ohio, St. John's woods, Bowling Green, Ohio, also on Ralston's
Run near Chillicothe, where the specimens in Figure 235 were found. Both
cap and stem are covered with a thick gluten. They grow, with us, in
woods among leaves. The young plant