_General Information_: This fungus is recognisable by the orange or yellow cap and stem and the decurrent gills. It was formerly placed in _Cantharellus_ because of the colours, white spores and the decurrent gills, but it really differs in many other respects. It is true, however, that it is frequently confused with the true Chanterelle (_Cantharellus cibarius_ Fries, p. 162) by those who do not inspect their specimens carefully. The gills are thin, plate-like as in other agarics and not fold-like as in _Cantharellus_ (see p. 162). The Chanterelle is edible and sought after as a delicacy, but there are varying reports as to the edibility of _Hygrophoropsis_. Certainly it is not of the best quality and there is evidence for it causing upsets: therefore it is best to take the name ‘False Chanterelle’ at face value and treat this fungus as truely false; ‘aurantiaca’ means orange-coloured and refers to the colour of the fungus. A pale form is frequently collected, particularly in hill-pastures, and is probably worthy of specific recognition. The cap is ochraceous yellow to cream and the stem distinctly dark in the lower half. There is some confusion as to the true position in classification of this fungus. The anatomical details of the fruit-body parallel those of _Paxillus involutus_ (Fries) Fries (see p. 38) although the spore-print is white. There is little doubt that future research will answer this problem. _Illustrations_: Hvass 183; LH 185; NB 103¹; WD 16³. [Illustration: Plate 30. Fleshy fungi: Spores white and borne on gills] (b) Agarics of chalk-grassland and rich uplands ~Agaricus campestris~ Fries Field mushroom _Cap_: width 40-100 mm. _Stem_: width 12-20 mm; length 40-80 mm. _Description_: Cap: rounded then expanding to become plano-convex, fleshy with the margin incurved at first, initially pure white, but soon becoming cream-colour and at maturity streaked brownish particularly at the centre. Stem: white with a simple, very thin, white ring which becomes brownish on rubbing and is easily lost with age or by handling. Gills: free, pink but finally umber-brown at maturity. Flesh: white, flushed reddish when cut especially in the stem. Spore-print: cigar-brown, with hint of purple. Spores: medium sized, ellipsoid or egg-shaped, smooth, small, 7-8 × 4-5 µm and dark brown under the microscope. Marginal and facial cystidia: absent. Basidia 4-spored. _Habitat_ & _Distribution_: The field-mushroom grows amongst grass in pastures, etc., and also on old lawns where it may form fairy-rings. _General Information_: This is the common wild, edible mushroom for which many people have in the past unwisely substituted many quite unrelated species. Deaths have often been caused by lack of careful observation when selecting wild fungi for the table; this only emphasises why white mushrooms found in fields should not be casually eaten.