t of the larva of the goat moth, that it
bears the name of _Hygrophorus cossus_. Most of the fleshy forms
exhale a strong nitrous odour during decay, but the most powerful we
remember to have experienced was developed by a very large specimen of
_Choiromyces meandriformis_, a gigantic subterranean species of the
truffle kind, and this specimen was four inches in diameter when
found, and then partially decayed. It was a most peculiar, but strong
and unpleasantly pungent nitrous odour, such as we never remember to
have met with in any other substance. _Peziza venosa_ is remarkable
when fresh for a strong scent like that of aquafortis.

Of colour, fungi exhibit an almost endless variety, from white,
through ochraceous, to all tints of brown until nearly black, or
through sulphury yellow to reds of all shades, deepening into crimson,
or passing by vinous tints into purplish black. These are the
predominating gradations, but there are occasional blues and mineral
greens, passing into olive, but no pure or chlorophyllous green. The
nearest approach to the latter is found in the hymenium of some
_Boleti_. Some of the Agarics exhibit bright colours, but the larger
number of bright-coloured species occur in the genus _Peziza_. Nothing
can be more elegant than the orange cups of _Peziza aurantia_, the
glowing crimson of _Peziza coccinea_, the bright scarlet of _Peziza
rutilans_, the snowy whiteness of _Peziza nivea_, the delicate yellow
of _Peziza theleboloides_, or the velvety brown of _Peziza repanda_.
Amongst Agarics, the most noble _Agaricus muscarius_, with its warty
crimson pileus, is scarcely eclipsed by the continental orange
_Agaricus caesarius_. The amethystine variety of _Agaricus laccatus_ is
so common and yet so attractive; whilst some forms and species
_Russula_ are gems of brilliant colouring. The golden tufts of more
than one species of _Clavaria_ are exceedingly attractive, and the
delicate pink of immature _Lycogala epidendrum_ is sure to command
admiration. The minute forms which require the microscope, as much to
exhibit their colour as their structure, are not wanting in rich and
delicate tints, so that the colour-student would find much to charm
him, and good practice for his pencil in these much despised examples
of low life.

Amongst phenomena might be cursorily mentioned the peculiar sarcodioid
mycelium of _Myxogastres_, the development of amoeboid forms from
their spores, and the extraordinary rapidity