cognized from the black spores and from the deliquescence of the gills
and cap into an inky substance. Many of the species grow in dung, as the
name implies, or on recently manured ground. Some grow in flat rich
ground, or where there has been a fill, or on dumping grounds; some grow
on wood and around old stumps.

The pileus separates easily from the stem. The gills are membranaceous,
closely pressed together. The spores, with few exceptions, are black.
Most of the species are edible, but many are of such small size that
they are easily overlooked.

_Coprinus comatus. Fr._

THE SHAGGY MANE COPRINUS. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: _Photo by Prof Shaftner._

Figure 269.--Coprinus comatus.]

[Illustration: Figure 270.--Coprinus comatus. One-half natural size.]

Comatus is from coma, having long hair, shaggy. It is so called from a
fancied resemblance to a wig on a barber's block. A description is
hardly necessary with a photograph before us. They always remind us of a
congregation of goose eggs standing on end. This plant cannot be
confounded with any other, and the finder is the happy possessor of a
rich, savory morsel that cannot be duplicated in any market.

The pileus is fleshy, moist, at first egg-shaped, cylindrical, becoming
bell-shaped, seldom expanded, splitting at the margin along the line of
the gills, adorned with scattered yellowish scales, tinged with
purplish-black, yet sometimes entirely white; surface shaggy.

The gills are free, crowded, equal, creamy white, becoming pink, brown,
then black, and dripping an inky fluid.

The stem is three to eight inches long, hollow, smooth, or slightly
fibrillose, tapering upward, creamy-white, brittle, easily separating
from the cap, slightly bulbous at the base. The ring is rarely adherent
or movable in young plants, later lying on the ground at the base of the
stem or disappearing altogether. The spores are black and elliptical,
and are shed in liquid drops.

Found in damp rich ground, gardens, rich lawns, barnyards, and dumping
grounds. They often grow in large clusters. They are found everywhere in
great abundance, from May till late frost. A weak stomach can digest any
of the Coprini when almost any other food will give it trouble. I am
always pleased to give a dish of any Coprini to an invalid.

_Coprinus atramentarius. Fr._

THE INKY COPRINUS. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 271.--Coprinus atramentarius. Two-thirds natural
size.]

Atramentarius me