Page:Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms.djvu/326

 TAB. CLXXIX.

HIS is at first of a frothy, afterwards a mucilaginous texture. As it advances towards maturity, it settles into little roundish protuberances, and seems a somewhat condensed powder. At length we find it composed of an innumerable quantity of oblong capsules, filled with a fine powder or feed. The operculum, or cover, seems, like the same powder, a little hardened by external moisture, or some mucilaginous matter. I am not quite satisfied to call it a Reticularia; but must leave the definitions of all the Genera till we are more informed. TAB. CLXXX.

found this in the outside gallery above the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, April 5th, 1794, on a cindery substance. I have frequently seen it since on putrifying bones, Sec. The Rev. Mr. Alderson, of Hevingham, Norfolk, found some on Norfolk cheese, in his cellar, which was brought me by Mr. Dawson Turner, of Yarmouth, June 1st, 1798. All cheese seems to have it in a young or imperfect state, as the yellow, orange and red tints indicate; the substance is extremely tender and mealy, but durable if not touched. I have both specimens by me, not decayed.