at the term "poisonous" is used relatively. While
some are only slightly poisonous, producing severe gastric irritation
and nervous derangement, but without fatal results, others, if eaten in
even very small quantity, may cause death. Happily, however, the most
dangerous species are not numerous as compared with the number that are
edible, and with careful attention on the part of the collector they may
be avoided.

Since the Amanita group is made responsible by competent authority for
most of the recorded cases of fatal poisoning, we would recommend the
amateur mycophagist to give special study to this group in order to
learn to separate the species authentically recorded as edible from the
poisonous ones.

Some writers, as a measure of precaution, counsel the rejection of all
species of Amanita. But this is, of course, a matter for individual
preference. There would seem to be no good reason why the observant
student should not learn to discriminate between the edible and the
poisonous species of the Amanita as of any other group, and they should
not be eaten until this discriminating knowledge is acquired.

Saccardo describes fifteen edible species of this group of mushrooms. We
have tested three of this number, which, on account of their abundance
in our locality and their good flavor, we would be loth to discard,
viz., A. rubescens, A. Caesarea, and A. strobiliformis.

A type of the Amanita group, which is named first in the genera of the
order Agaricini, is shown in Fig. 1, Plate B.

By reference to this figure some of the special characteristics of the
group can be observed. There are mushrooms in other genera which show a
volva or sheath at the base of the stem, and which contain edible
species, but in these the stem is ringless. The Volvariae, for instance,
show a conspicuous volva, a stem that is ringless, and pinkish spores.
The Amanitopsis vaginata carries a volva, but no ring. The spores are
white, as in the Amanita.

In gathering mushrooms either for the table or for the herbarium, care
should be taken not to leave any portion of the plant in the ground, so
that no feature shall be lost that will aid in characterizing the
species. In the careless pulling up of the plant the volva in the
volvate species is often left behind.

AGARICINI. Fries.

LEUCOSPORI (SPORES WHITE, OR YELLOWISH).

_Genus Russula_ Fr. The _Russulae_ bear some resemblance to the
_Lactars_, their nearest allies,