The Scottish Naturalist. 73 



chiefly from the West Coasts of Africa and the Canary and Cape 

 de Verde Islands. Besides these, however, a good many others 

 are employed, brought from other regions, to be made use of as 

 adulterations or as substitutes for the more valuable kinds. The 

 manufacture of dyes from the Orchils is still a considerable in- 

 dustry, though curtailed of much of its importance by the intro- 

 duction into commerce of the varied and beautiful aniline dyes. 



The Fungi now must claim attention. In their importance to 

 mankind they far surpass all other Cryptogams ; but to treat of them 

 with even an approach to the same fulness as the other groups have 

 received, would require far more space than can now be devoted 

 to them. In structure the Fungi show very great diversity; but 

 all agree in requiring for their nourishment organic food, in the 

 torm of the living bodies, or of the dead and decaying remains ot 

 plants or animals. Many Fungi seem to grow from the ground it- 

 self; but even these get their food from decaying organic matter 

 in the soil, or from the roots of plants. In size Fungi vary from 

 a foot or more in diameter to extreme minuteness. 



Everyone is familiar with the fact that there are edible mush- 

 rooms, from which also ketchup can be prepared ; but the popular 

 idea seldom embraces more than the common field mushroom 

 (Agaricus ca?npestris). Perhaps it is well not to encourage a 

 rash tendency to experiment on the edible properties of Fungi, in 

 view of the very poisonous nature of so many of them, and of the 

 great likeness of certain edible to poisonous species ; but the pre- 

 valent neglect of these plants causes the loss of a good deal of 

 wholesome and safe food. There are no rules which can be re- 

 lied on with absolute certainty to distinguish edible from poisonous 

 mushrooms ; and where the consequences of ignorance may be so 

 serious, over-caution is less to be blamed than rashness; yet a 

 little care would enable any moderately observant person to recog- 

 nise several excellent species without much risk of error. Mr. 

 Worthington Smith's sheets of coloured figures of the edible and 

 poisonous mushrooms are valuable aids to their discrimination. 

 Chantarelles (Cantharellus cibarius), Fairy-ring Mushrooms 

 (Marasmius oreades), Hydniwi repandum, young Puff balls {Lyco- 

 perdon sps.), Morels {Morchella esculentd) ; and others might be 

 mentioned which could scarcely be mistaken by anyone at all ac- 

 quainted with them. Truffles {Tuber cibanwti) are held in high 

 repute ; but need not be looked for as food products of Scotland. 



