A polypore with a soft hairy cap.
Did not find it in my mushroom guides.
Identified as Inonotus hispidus by Darvin DeShazer. Thanks Darvin!
Here is the underside. It is about a foot across.
Went back three days later and took a
picture of the cross-section.
The white things are maggots :o)
On 3/5/06 I found two of them in dried out condition on an oak in Northborough. Did not have the camera with me so I took the pictures when I got home.
Here
they are side by side.
The largest is about 6" wide. The hair does not look as attractive as in
the live one.
Underside of one.