Spotting

Thanks! I think that should help me ID them. That book has been on my list for a while, but I haven't got around to getting it yet. After hearing your reviews I might have to bump it up my list.

Further to your comment on my spotting Coprinus or Coprinopsis lagopus http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/203...
I think yours is likely the same or close to it. There is a whole complex of mushrooms of closely related inky caps that look very similar and are difficult to tell apart without examining the spores under a microscope. I am not a mushroom expert either but you might enjoy reading my newest favourite mushroom book Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora. This info I passed on to you is from p 351 in that book! He is very informative and also entertaining!