[42 ; Rhodora [May 
of this modest and kindly attempt to smooth the way to knowledge. 
Only the possession and leisurely perusal of the little volume will 
reveal its unique character. 
Quite different must be the attitude of a reviewer to the latest 
book placed before the public. Written by a person with botanical 
training, “The Mushroom Book,” lays claim, or should, to scientific 
accuracy and method. It is, to be sure, avowedly a popular book. 
The publishers would have wished to undertake no other kind. 
But even popular books can and should be scientific, in the true 
meaning of tlie word, that is to say, they should present facts ac- 
curately and systematically. 
The book makes an admirable first impression, due to the ampli- 
tude of the pages and spacing, the broad margins, clear printing 
sharply outlined cuts, and excellent plates. The publishers 
indeed, have done their work well. Examination of the book un- 
fortunately, effaces this good impression. The introductory matter, 
it is true, is on the whole well arranged and expressed, especially 
the chapter headed * From Spore to Mushroom." ‘The Key which 
follows, too, is made intelligible to the novice by abundant diagrams 
illustrating the terms employed. It is with the bulk of the book, the 
hundred pages descriptive of genera and species, that fault must 
be found. Here there is absolute confusion. Groups, and genera 
under groups, are taken up,as it seems, haphazard. In the white- 
spored series of Agarics, for instance, the first five genera in 
order are Amanita, Cantharellus, Amanitopsis, Mycena and Lenti- 
nus, and the last five are Schizophyllum, Omphalia, Russula, 
Clitocybe and Tricholoma. Whatever may have determined this 
succession, it was not the probable convenience of the student, for 
no knowledge of any principle of classification will guide him when 
he wishes to refer to the description of a species and, if he has no 
such knowledge, he is not likely to be assisted as his familiarity 
with the order of the plates increases. 
As to the character of the descriptions, it is very evident, even 
without the acknowledgment in the preface, that they do not imply 
any acquaintance on the part of the author with the plants them- 
selves. And this criticism applies with special force to such species 
! The Mushroom Book, by Mina L. Marshall, New York, Doubleday, Page & 
Co., 1901, pp. 167. $3.00. 
