Collection and Preservation of Fitngi. 5 



soaked in water, it is almost equal to a fresh specimen. 

 It is true that in drying the colour in most instances 

 disappears or becomes much duller than when living-, 

 but the earnest student will make ^^ketches and notes 

 of those peculiarities presented by the fresh specimens 

 which are certain to disappear on drying, amongst 

 which may be mentioned, colour, smell, taste, viscidity, 

 &c. Habitat should also be noted, and in the case of 

 fungi parasitic on living plants or animals, tlie name 

 of the host should be given, as in many instances 

 certain species are, so far as is known, confined to one 

 host. But in this connection it is important to guard 

 the student against the slipshod method, in vogue at> 

 the present day, of assuming that a fungus is a given 

 species merely because found on a certain host. It 

 may be argued that because the above points are not 

 usually noted in exsiccati, or collections of fungi 

 offered for sale, that they are not indispensable, but 

 unfortunately it is too evident that in many instances 

 such sets are prepared for the sole purpose of obtain- 

 ing a good percentage on the time and money ex- 

 pended on their production. 



The numerous efipliy lions fungi, or species growing 

 upon leaves, are easily preserved, the leaves being 

 dried between sheets of absorbent paper in the usual 

 way, only sufficient pressure being applied to keep the 

 leaves flat. The minute forms belonging to the 

 AscomyceteSj that to the naked eye appear as black or 

 red points on bark and wood, must be cut away with 

 sufficient of the matrix to show the general habit of 

 the species. The pieces must be thoroughly dried 

 before being put away, otherwise they will probably be 



