Here is another fungus, and a species which I am very glad to find in the Wrekin woods, though it grows but sparingly. Take it up; turn it over. How curious! the under side is not a series of gills, as in _Agaricus_, nor a substance perforated by a number of little holes, as in _Boletus_. It is formed of a quantity of delicate white teeth or spines; see how beautiful they are and how easily broken. The spines are exactly like miniature awls. It is called from the prickly appearance of the under surface, or _hymenium_, the hedgehog mushroom (_Hydnum repandum_). "Is it good to eat?" asked Jack. It is, in my opinion, one of the most exquisite fungi that grows, and the most curious thing about it is that its flavour very strongly resembles oysters. Last year we had some of these fellows cut up in bits about the size of a bean and stewed in white sauce; the sauce we ate with a beefsteak at dinner, and I do think that as far as flavour is concerned one might almost pass it off as oyster sauce without any one finding it out. Not that the hedgehog-mushroom-sauce is really as good as oyster sauce, but, as I said, the flavour strongly reminds one of it, nor do I think that any fungi, delicious as they are, can ever come up to oysters, the _ne-plus-ultra_ of exquisite food. It is getting towards evening and we must not linger much longer. How many eatable fungi have we got? let me count. _Lepiota procera_, _Amanita rubescens_, _Hydnum repandum_, and _Marasmius oreades_ which we gathered in the meadow before we entered the wood. We will take them home, they will come in very well either at breakfast or at dinner time. The other fungi we will also take home and compare them with the descriptions and drawings in my books. * * * * * And now our rambles are ended; we have seen there is much to notice, much to admire. Let us never forget our great Creator who has made all the beautiful things we see around us; let us learn this lesson from the contemplation of the works of the Almighty--that as all created things are fulfilling their appointed work, so we too should fulfil ours, and by obedience, diligence, kindness, and patience show our love of Him for whose "pleasure all things are, and were created." [Illustration] PRINTED BY J. E. ADLARD, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE. * * * * * NEW WORKS AND NEW EDITIONS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS 5, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. DEDICATED TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD LYTTON. _In one handsome Volume, Foolscap Quarto, cloth gilt, price 25s._ WOMANKIND IN WESTERN EUROPE, FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. By THOMAS WRIGHT, M.A., F.S.A. _Illustrated with numerous Coloured Plates and Wood Engravings._